Lee Jae-myung "The Owner of the Democratic Party Is Its Members" vs Kim Du-kwan "What Good Is Being the Boss of Yeouido Alley?"

Kim Jisoo "I Stand Here Thanks to Party Members"

At the 4th week nationwide party member convention to elect the next leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea, candidate Lee Jae-myung emphasized a party centered on its members and stressed party unity. On the other hand, candidate Kim Du-kwan pointed out that it would be difficult to expand the centrist base under the 'Lee Jae-myung one-pole system.'

On the morning of the 4th, Kim Ji-su (from the left), Kim Du-kwan, and Lee Jae-myung, candidates for the party leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, attended the joint speech event held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Seo-gu, Gwangju.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 10th, at the 1st regular party member convention joint speech meeting for the Gyeonggi region held at Bucheon Gymnasium in Gyeonggi Province, candidate Lee said, "We must create a happy country where the people have hope. At the center of that must stand the Democratic Party, and at the center of that must be party comrades together," adding, "Seeing this place today, it seems the Democratic Party has been reborn as a party centered on its members."

Candidate Lee also emphasized his coined term 'Meoksanism.' Meoksanism is a neologism meaning that the focus should be on livelihood and making a living rather than ideology. Lee said, "The Democratic Party must find a way to solve the people's livelihood issues," and added, "Livelihood issues are the most important. The economy is the most important, and growth must be restored." Furthermore, he stressed, "The government must invest during difficult times. Now is the time to invest," and "Through investment, we must create new growth engines."

Candidate Kim Ji-soo also advocated for a party centered on its members. He said, "A 38-year-old ordinary party member courageously stood as a candidate for the leader of the giant opposition Democratic Party," and added, "The people who gave me the courage to stand here are the party members." He continued, "This means any party member can challenge for the leadership of the Democratic Party," emphasizing, "That is why the Democratic Party is dynamic."

On the other hand, candidate Kim Du-kwan questioned the claim that the Democratic Party has been reorganized as a party centered on its members. Kim said, "The era of party member sovereignty can only be realized on the ground, but I am not sure if deciding major policies when the party member turnout rate is just over 20% fits party member sovereignty," and added, "They say they will include a basic society in the party platform, but what is so urgent about that?" The Democratic Party proposed an amendment to the party platform specifying the basic society, which candidate Lee put forward, at the party affairs committee on the 5th.

Candidate Kim Du-kwan raised the level of criticism, saying that reorganizing the party around candidate Lee would make it difficult to expand its base. During this, jeers were heard directed at Kim Du-kwan. Kim said, "Including candidate Lee, the Democratic Party has many presidential candidates such as Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon, former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, former lawmaker Lee Tan-hee, and former presidential secretary Im Jong-seok," and added, "If this were a normal party, people would be silent and applaud such remarks, but is a party that drives people to jeer a normal party?" He then criticized candidate Lee, saying, "What good is being the alley boss of Yeouido?"

Candidate Kim Du-kwan repeatedly criticized candidate Lee, who hinted at reconsidering the financial investment income tax and comprehensive real estate tax, calling it a 'tax cut for the rich.' Kim said, "Why should we agree to tax cuts for the rich?" and added, "We are a party for the middle class and ordinary people." Furthermore, he pointed out, "Those who currently pay the comprehensive real estate tax and those who earn more than 50 million won through financial investments are being taken care of by Yongsan and the People Power Party," and questioned, "Are we really going to do this as our party?"