National Assembly Negotiation Group Speech
Political Turmoil, “Shielding Lee Jaemyung”… A Plot to Seize the Presidency
Supplementary Budget Needed for Protecting the Vulnerable, Revitalizing Domestic Demand, and Strengthening AI
In his negotiation group representative speech at the National Assembly on this day, Kwon referenced the impeachments and special prosecutor bills against cabinet members, stating, “There has never been an opposition party like this in our constitutional history, nor in any other country in the world. This is a record of parliamentary dictatorship, evidence of legislative violence, and a chronicle of constitutional destruction.”
Regarding Lee and the Democratic Party, Kwon said, “The Democratic Party has destroyed parliamentarism, the separation of powers, and the rule of law. State affairs have become dysfunctional, in a state of cardiac arrest. I assert that the main culprit behind the current political chaos, the instigator of the national crisis, and the destroyer of constitutional order is none other than Lee Jaemyung’s Democratic Party faction. The sole purpose of this turmoil is to shield their leader, Lee, the ‘father’ of the Democratic Party.” He continued, “This is a political rebellion aiming to drive state affairs to catastrophe before Lee’s verdict is finalized-he faces eight cases, twelve charges, and five trials-in order to force an early presidential election and seize the presidency.”
Kwon also proposed a decentralized constitutional amendment as a fundamental solution to the flaws of the current presidential system. “Since the advent of the 1987 system, there have been eight presidents with single five-year terms. Of these, three have been impeached, and four have been imprisoned. This is a fatal flaw of the system itself, beyond individual problems. Now is the time to break this vicious cycle. The key to solving the problem is restoring healthy checks and balances through the dispersion of power,” he stated.
Regarding the supplementary budget (extra budget), Kwon said he does not oppose its formulation, but expressed that discussions could be held for protecting vulnerable groups (excluding local currency), revitalizing domestic demand, and strengthening artificial intelligence (AI). “Just a month ago, the Democratic Party unilaterally slashed this year’s budget by more than 4 trillion won. Now they are proposing a supplementary budget,” he said. “National finances should not be manipulated for partisan gain. Before even mentioning a supplementary budget, apologize to the people and all public officials,” he urged, calling for the restoration of the slashed budget.
![[Full Text] Kwon Seongdong: "Lee Jaemyung’s Faction Is the Main Culprit of Political Chaos... Decentralized Constitutional Amendment Needed"](https://cphoto.asiae.co.kr/listimglink/1/2025021110370827462_1739237827.jpg)
Kwon Seongdong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is delivering a negotiation group representative speech at the plenary session held at the National Assembly on February 11, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Below is the full text of floor leader Kwon’s negotiation group representative speech at the National Assembly
Before I begin, I must address a shocking incident that occurred yesterday at a school-a place that should be safer than anywhere else. Our party will take the lead in uncovering the truth and preparing measures to prevent recurrence. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families.
Honorable citizens,
Speaker Woo Wonshik and fellow members of the National Assembly,
Acting President Choi Sangmok and members of the Cabinet,
I am Kwon Seongdong, floor leader of the People Power Party.
Today, I stand here with a heavy heart. The Republic of Korea is going through an extremely difficult period. The declaration of the 12·3 Martial Law, the impeachment and arrest indictment of the president-these are national crises of the highest order. I am fully aware of the anxiety and concern felt by the people. As the ruling party, we feel a deep sense of responsibility. I sincerely apologize.
On July 21, 2022, I stood here to deliver a negotiation group representative speech. I explained in detail the policy tasks of the newly launched government and ruling party. Now, two and a half years later, I stand here again. The president’s duties are suspended, and the government’s policy agenda is on hold. We must reflect on why such misfortune occurred and what must be done going forward.
Honorable citizens,
It has not yet been three full years since this administration took office. Nonetheless, there have been significant achievements. Above all, macroeconomic stability has been restored. Exports have maintained steady growth. Despite difficult conditions, last year’s economic growth rate was kept at 2%. Per capita GDP has entered the $36,000 range, higher than Japan and Taiwan. The inflation rate, which had risen to 6% at the start of the administration, has now stabilized in the 2% range.
Meanwhile, during the Moon Jaein administration, national debt surged by more than 400 trillion won, opening the era of 1,000 trillion won in national debt. Despite these adverse conditions, the government pursued sound fiscal policies while supporting livelihoods. As a result, external credit ratings were maintained. The sharp rise in housing prices that caused great pain to ordinary people has also stabilized, thanks to appropriate housing supply and the easing of punitive taxation. The Moon administration’s nuclear phase-out policy was scrapped, and the nuclear power ecosystem is being restored. There have also been remarkable achievements in foreign affairs and national security. The Korea-US alliance, which was severely shaken during the Moon administration, has been fully restored to its highest level ever. The worst-ever Korea-Japan relations have been normalized. Trilateral cooperation among Korea, the US, and Japan has been strengthened, and the submissive policy toward North Korea has been abandoned. Peace through strength is being maintained. I believe these achievements are even more valuable because they were accomplished despite the Democratic Party’s obstructive maneuvers.
However, there are still unfinished tasks. In particular, the continued slump in domestic demand has caused many citizens to struggle. We have implemented policies to stabilize livelihoods, such as strengthening protection for the vulnerable and expanding support for small business owners and the self-employed, but it is still not enough. To address the low birth rate, the government and ruling party have promoted the establishment of a Population Strategy Planning Department. In July last year, the People Power Party submitted a government organization law amendment bill to the National Assembly. Progress has stalled due to the Democratic Party’s lack of cooperation. Pension reform, which concerns the future of the elderly and youth, has also been halted in the National Assembly for nearly half a year. Labor reform has been pursued in accordance with the rule of law. As a result, illegal strikes have decreased, and the number of lost workdays has dropped to one-third of what it was under the Moon administration. Ninety percent of unions now participate in financial disclosures, improving transparency. Corruption in union leadership recruitment has also been addressed. However, securing flexibility in the labor market and resolving its dual structure have not yet been achieved due to opposition from the Democratic Party and militant unions. The core task of education reform-integrating early childhood education and care-has been outlined, but progress remains slow. Medical reform is still adrift due to ongoing conflicts between the government and medical associations. The third year of a presidential term should be a time to maximize policy achievements, but the current reality is deeply regrettable and distressing. Nevertheless, the People Power Party will fulfill its responsibilities as the ruling party until the end. We will steadfastly pursue the remaining policy tasks.
Honorable citizens,
The recent declaration of the 12·3 Martial Law was an incomprehensible measure in 21st-century Korea. However, we must examine why such an emergency measure was taken. Since the founding of the Republic of Korea, up to the Moon Jaein administration, there were a total of 21 impeachment motions. Yet, since the launch of the Yoon Sukyeol administration, the major opposition party has submitted 29 impeachment motions. There has never been such an opposition party in our constitutional history, nor in any country in the world. Even more shocking are the reasons for these impeachment motions. Lee Jinsook, chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, was impeached just two days after her appointment. It was a politically motivated impeachment by the Democratic Party to seize control of broadcasting.
Lee Jaemyung is the main culprit in the North Korea remittance case and the Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong corruption cases. Yet, the prosecutors who investigated these cases were impeached en masse. It was an outrageous act of impeaching prosecutors by a criminal defendant. Even the chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection was impeached simply for auditing corruption and crimes under the Moon administration, such as the nuclear phase-out, the murder of a public official in the West Sea, manipulation of housing price statistics, and corruption in solar energy projects. The chief prosecutor and prosecutors maintaining the indictment in Lee Jaemyung’s trial were also impeached, suspending them from duty. The purpose is to shackle Lee’s investigation team and delay the trial. There was even a ridiculous reason in the impeachment motion against the Minister of Justice: that he glared at Lee Jaemyung. After the presidential impeachment passed, political stability became more urgent than ever. Yet, even acting president Han Deoksoo was impeached. The reason was that he requested bipartisan agreement regarding the appointment of a Constitutional Court justice. Where else in the world does such tyranny exist? Not stopping there, the Democratic Party is constantly threatening to impeach acting president Choi Sangmok as well.
Furthermore, since the launch of the current administration, the major opposition party has submitted 23 special prosecutor bills. The special prosecutor bills proposed by the Democratic Party are filled with unconstitutional and illegal toxic provisions. They were also pushed through without bipartisan agreement. In addition, the opposition party has even committed a “budget terror.” The Democratic Party unilaterally slashed and passed this year’s budget bill. It was retaliation for opposing a 1 trillion won increase in local gift certificates. What about National Assembly hearings? Using their majority, they opened legislative and petition hearings, displaying all kinds of abnormal verbal abuse and abuse of power. They summoned numerous public officials and businesspeople, threatening and mocking them as if interrogating criminals. The hearings became a stage for personal attacks, not for fact-finding.
So far, the president and acting president have exercised the right to request reconsideration (veto) a total of 38 times. The Democratic Party criticizes this as arrogance. This is the Democratic Party’s typical tactic of branding the government as uncommunicative and arrogant. If a law is in the national interest and has bipartisan agreement, why would the government exercise the right to request reconsideration?
Citizens,
29 consecutive impeachment motions, 23 special prosecutor bills, 38 requests for reconsideration, countless forced abusive hearings, and the unilateral passage of a slashed budget bill-these are all unprecedented events since the founding of the Republic of Korea. They are a record of parliamentary dictatorship, evidence of legislative violence, and a chronicle of constitutional destruction. The Democratic Party has destroyed parliamentarism, the separation of powers, and the rule of law. State affairs have become dysfunctional, in a state of cardiac arrest. I assert that the main culprit behind the current political chaos, the instigator of the national crisis, and the destroyer of constitutional order is none other than Lee Jaemyung’s Democratic Party faction. The sole purpose of this turmoil is to shield Lee Jaemyung, the “father” of the Democratic Party. This is a political rebellion aiming to drive state affairs to catastrophe before Lee’s verdict is finalized-he faces eight cases, twelve charges, and five trials-in order to force an early presidential election and seize the presidency. They have abandoned the people’s livelihoods and the economy, wielding legislative power solely to shield their leader. They are a personality cult that knows nothing but impeachment and special prosecutors, a force that foments anxiety, and a group that drives politics into endless conflict and division. This is the true face of the Democratic Party.
Honorable citizens,
The Republic of Korea stands on three pillars: liberal democracy, a market economy, and the Korea-US alliance. The Democratic Party seeks to uproot these pillars and lead Korea down a path of chaos and decline. The Korea-US alliance is the foundation of Korea’s foreign policy and security, and the bedrock of our prosperity. However, the history of the alliance has not been smooth. In the 1980s, student activists shouted “Down with US imperialism!” and led extreme anti-American protests. Among the opposition members here today, some were at the forefront of these protests. Have your views changed now?
Even now, left-wing groups such as the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) are calling for the withdrawal of US forces from Korea and the suspension of joint Korea-US military exercises, threatening the alliance. Yet, recently, the Democratic Party suddenly proposed a resolution supporting the Korea-US alliance. Lee Jaemyung is also emphasizing the alliance. This is a camouflage tactic aimed at an early presidential election. The chameleon’s protective coloring has changed to the pattern of the Stars and Stripes. On December 7 last year, the first impeachment motion against the president cited “value diplomacy”-strengthening ties with liberal democracies-as a reason for impeachment. I ask the opposition members here: do you truly believe “value diplomacy” is grounds for impeachment? If so, you are denying the very foundation of the Republic of Korea.
In the past, Lee Jaemyung called US forces an “occupation force” and said, “We must be prepared for the withdrawal of US forces.” During the 2017 presidential election, he declared, “If I become president, I will withdraw the THAAD deployment.” In the last presidential election, on the very first day of the official campaign, he mocked, “Instead of something as heinous as THAAD, I’ll give you a boiler.” What would have happened if Lee Jaemyung had won the last presidential election? Korea-US relations would have been in crisis. Security assets like THAAD would have been abandoned. The withdrawal of US forces would have been ignored. Solidarity with liberal democracies would have collapsed. Instead, he would have begged North Korea for a piece of paper declaring an end to the war.
Citizens,
Korea is a global power, ranking in the top 10 in economic strength and fifth in military strength. Korea-US relations must be further expanded into an industrial and economic alliance. Nuclear power, semiconductors, and shipbuilding are prime examples. All are strategic industries directly linked to security. In nuclear power, combining US original technology and diplomatic strength with Korea’s construction and operation capabilities can create powerful synergy. But who destroyed our nuclear industry ecosystem? It was the Democratic Party. At the end of last year, the Democratic Party slashed the research and development budget for the next-generation sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) from 7 billion won to 700 million won-a 90% cut. The special semiconductor law and power grid law, both crucial for fostering the semiconductor industry, are also being blocked. How can we foster advanced industries when we lack semiconductors and electricity? It is like claiming to cook rice without any rice. Korea’s shipbuilding industry is world-class. Even former US President Donald Trump has taken note. If our shipbuilders can maintain, repair, and service US Navy vessels, it will greatly benefit both the industry and national security.
However, the amendment to the Restriction of Special Taxation Act, which would support cutting-edge shipbuilding as a national strategic technology, is being blocked in the National Assembly’s Strategy and Finance Committee because of the Democratic Party. How can we strengthen the Korea-US alliance while neglecting strategic industries? Meanwhile, countries in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America are seeking to import Korea’s excellent K-defense products. Yet, the vacancy in the Minister of National Defense position is causing major disruptions in high-level negotiations. Acting president Choi must immediately appoint a defense minister to ensure national security and defense exports.
Honorable citizens,
Professor Daron Acemoglu of MIT, who won the Nobel Prize in Economics last year, said Korea’s prosperity and North Korea’s collapse are due to differences in economic institutions. Korea established a market economy that guarantees private property rights, provides incentives for effort, and rewards innovation. Thanks to such “inclusive economic institutions,” Korea achieved the Miracle on the Han River. Yet, most of the bills proposed by the Democratic Party are anti-market and anti-business. The so-called “Yellow Envelope Law” will encourage illegal strikes and wreak havoc across industries. The “National Assembly Testimony and Appraisal Act” allows the legislature to freely access personal information of company employees and corporate trade secrets. This is political power plundering the market and businesses. The Democratic Party shares the spoils of such plunder with left-wing groups. When the Democratic Party accommodated the legislative lobbying of groups like the KCTU and the Korean Peasants League, those groups formed political scrums for the party. While the Democratic Party grew fat on legislative deals, Korea’s investment environment steadily deteriorated.
According to a 2023 government (Economic Criminal Penalty Regulation Improvement TF) announcement, there are 5,886 criminal penalty provisions in 414 economic laws. Many are double punishment or joint penalty clauses. According to the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, the main reason foreign companies find it difficult to invest in Korea is the “unpredictable regulatory environment” (42.3%). Who created this anti-business investment environment? It is politics. The hypocritical political culture that treats politicians as “good” or “principled” simply for regulating and criticizing companies has become a shackle on our economy. At the center of this is the Democratic Party. Reductions in inheritance, gift, and corporate taxes are a global trend. Yet, the Democratic Party blocked tax reform with populist slogans about “tax cuts for the rich.” During the 2017 Democratic Party presidential primary, Lee Jaemyung pledged to raise the corporate tax rate to 30% for 440 conglomerates with operating profits over 50 billion won. As mayor of Seongnam, he said, “I will stake my political life on dismantling the chaebol system.” Lee’s economic extremism peaked with his push for universal basic income. As Seongnam mayor, he declared, “I will distribute one million won in basic income to 28 million people.” As governor of Gyeonggi Province, he said, “Basic income is the policy I want to achieve in my lifetime.”
But where will the enormous funding come from? During the last presidential election, Lee Jaemyung claimed that a data tax, AI robot tax, and land holding tax would fund basic income. This is pure fantasy. No country in the world has implemented universal basic income. Yet, recently, Lee Jaemyung has claimed to be pragmatic: “Corporate competitiveness is national competitiveness,” “Basic income can be reconsidered,” “Growth is urgent now”-completely denying his past. However, words changed for political advantage will always revert to populism when demanded by his hardline supporters. If Lee Jaemyung and the Democratic Party are truly willing to revise their policies and direction, repeal the Yellow Envelope Law and the National Assembly Testimony and Appraisal Act. Instead, immediately pass bipartisan livelihood bills. If not, Lee Jaemyung’s so-called pragmatism is nothing but a political masquerade.
Honorable citizens,
Liberal democracy in Korea is in crisis. In 2018, the Democratic Party tried and failed to delete “liberal” from the “liberal democratic basic order” stipulated in Article 4 of the Constitution. This symbolizes the opposition’s deep antipathy toward liberal democracy. Recently, the Democratic Party declared it would allow ordinary citizens to report so-called fake news distributed via online communities and KakaoTalk. They even created a bizarre website called “Democratic Police Station” to receive such reports. The party leader impersonated a prosecutor, and now the party impersonates the police.
“Big Brother is watching you,” is a famous line from George Orwell’s novel <1984>. Now, in our reality, this phrase has become “The Democratic Party is watching you.” The party’s instinct for censorship and control is evident in its bills to manage polling firms, gag the press, and pressure media through advertising. With only parliamentary power, the Democratic Party and Lee Jaemyung wield unchecked authority and even monitor the daily lives of citizens. What will happen if their power grows further? Fear politics that control even private life will become routine. Endless political retaliation and purges against opponents will occur.
Citizens, the question of “People Power Party or Democratic Party?” is the same as asking “Liberal democracy or one-man cult dictatorship?” It is also the same as asking “Stability and unity or chaos and division?” The answer is clear.
Honorable members of the National Assembly,
There is an old saying: “Do not blame the waves, remove the wind.” It means to find and resolve the root cause of problems. I am convinced that the fundamental solution to our political crisis is constitutional amendment. Since the advent of the 1987 system, there have been eight presidents with single five-year terms. Of these, three have been impeached, and four have been imprisoned. This is a fatal flaw of the system itself, beyond individual problems. Now is the time to break this vicious cycle. The key to solving the problem is restoring healthy checks and balances through the dispersion of power.
When excessive power is concentrated in the presidency, the competition between ruling and opposition parties to seize the presidency becomes a life-or-death struggle. Extreme political strife continues throughout the five-year presidential term. Moreover, when the opposition controls parliamentary power, the president’s failure becomes the path to opposition rule. That is why they obstruct and drive state affairs to catastrophe at every turn. In such a power structure, normal governance is impossible. The president starts as a monarch and ends as a figurehead. Every four years, the National Assembly is rated the worst ever. We must now consider a structure that disperses the president’s imperial power and limits the abuse of parliamentary power.
Reform of the National Assembly election law also requires a forward-looking review. The quasi-linked proportional representation system, which distorts public sentiment, must be abolished. The winner-takes-all and regionally biased electoral system also needs reform. We must move toward a structure that enables cooperation and coexistence. Combining election schedules is also important. Holding the presidential, general, and local elections separately, as we do now, wastes national resources and makes responsible politics difficult. Numerous national elders, media, and academics are calling for constitutional amendment. Public opinion also supports it. Now, all that remains is the National Assembly’s decision.
In September 2022, Lee Jaemyung also stood here and argued for constitutional amendment. Yet now, Lee and the Democratic Party are turning away from it. Is it because they think the presidency is within reach? If things continue as they are, whoever takes power next-regardless of party-will only see a repetition of civil war without gunfire. Let us work together, gather opinions from the public and all sectors, and find the best system, even if it means shortening our own terms.
Honorable citizens,
The government has pursued medical reform. The government failed to fully heed the voices of the medical community and was hasty in some respects. Nevertheless, medical reform is necessary to normalize essential medical services and revive local healthcare. Let us resume dialogue between the government and medical associations. The People Power Party will work with the government and the medical community to find solutions for normalizing the medical field.
At the end of last year, our party ensured that the government accepted the requests of six organizations, including the Korean Medical Association, for special training for medical residents and deferral of military service. The Deputy Prime Minister for Education also promised to discuss the issue of medical school quotas for 2026 from scratch. Furthermore, I urge the Democratic Party to play a responsible role. So far, the Democratic Party has neglected the national issue of government-medical conflict, seeking only political advantage. This is an extremely irresponsible attitude for the largest party in the National Assembly. I hope that even one-tenth of the energy spent on political strife will be devoted to livelihood issues.
Honorable citizens,
Pension reform has also been promoted as a core policy task. In September last year, the government submitted a pension reform bill to the National Assembly, but discussion has been suspended ever since.
The Democratic Party, which had pressed the government to submit a bill, refused to discuss it once it was submitted. Now, suddenly, the Democratic Party is calling for renewed discussion, insisting in the Health and Welfare Committee on starting with parametric reform.
If, as the Democratic Party insists, we raise the income replacement rate to 45% through parametric reform alone, without structural reform or an automatic stabilization mechanism, the depletion of the National Pension Fund will be delayed by only about eight years. This will leave a massive fiscal burden on future generations. Should our generation enjoy greater benefits while saddling our youth with debt and a bleak future? Pension reform must overhaul the basic framework to be sustainable for 50 or 100 years. That is why the People Power Party has consistently called for both parametric and structural reform. In addition, we must seek ways to raise the National Pension Fund’s rate of return. A higher rate of return will strengthen pension finances. The National Pension Fund is now worth nearly 1,200 trillion won, ranking third or fourth in the world. The fund’s investment decision-making committee should be composed mainly of experts, not just ministers, vice ministers, and labor-management representatives.
To dramatically improve the fund’s rate of return, we will devise ways to attract global talent. Pension reform is linked to basic pensions, retirement pensions, and private insurance. Therefore, it should be discussed not just in the Health and Welfare Committee, but in a special committee with a broader mandate. If the ruling and opposition parties agree to form a special committee, the People Power Party will accept starting with parametric reform. However, there must be mechanisms to ensure that structural reform and rate-of-return reform are also addressed.
Honorable citizens,
Just a month ago, the Democratic Party unilaterally slashed this year’s budget by more than 4 trillion won. Now they are proposing a supplementary budget. National finances should not be manipulated for partisan gain. Before even mentioning a supplementary budget, apologize to the people and all public officials. Our party does not oppose discussing a supplementary budget. However, clear principles and direction are needed. The Democratic Party’s unilaterally slashed budget must be restored and supplemented.
Supplementary budgets that could be politically contentious, such as those involving local currency, should be excluded. Instead, the supplementary budget should focus on revitalizing domestic demand, supporting vulnerable groups, and strengthening industrial and trade competitiveness, including AI. In addition, the special semiconductor law must be passed in the February session of the National Assembly. The United States, China, Japan, Taiwan, and other major countries all regard semiconductors as a national security strategic industry and provide full support.
Countries around the world are entering a hyper-competitive system through national policy support and flexible working hours. This is because research and production must continue 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to survive in this industry. Nowhere else in the world are semiconductor researchers restricted by a 52-hour workweek. Yet, the Democratic Party persistently rejects a bill to exempt high-paid R&D personnel from the 52-hour workweek. The Democratic Party’s obsession with the 52-hour rule is out of step with global standards. In this era of constant change, it is a 21st-century isolationist policy that betrays the value of pragmatism. Semiconductors have no ideology or faction. In this era of economic warfare, we must focus solely on winning.
Honorable citizens,
Our future depends on fostering advanced industries such as AI and semiconductors. Advanced industries require a robust energy supply. Yet, there is now an energy supply emergency on the ground. Take the Yongin semiconductor cluster, for example. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix plan to invest about 480 trillion won, but securing power is difficult. They are trying to bring in electricity generated on the east and south coasts, but there are too many obstacles.
The People Power Party will establish a “National Comprehensive Infrastructure Development Roadmap” that integrates energy, transportation, and communication infrastructure to ensure sufficient energy supply for advanced companies. We will shift the paradigm of national land development from a focus on the metropolitan area and road networks to energy infrastructure. We will encourage the relocation of energy-intensive advanced industries to regions equipped with energy sources and transmission/distribution infrastructure, and provide bold incentives such as tax benefits, subsidies, and education, medical, and cultural infrastructure. This is a new national development project for Korea’s leap forward. We will achieve both the fostering of future industries and regional revitalization.
Honorable citizens,
This year marks the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation. Over the past 80 years, we have written a history of challenge and achievement. We built a nation on the ruins of colonial rule and war, constructed roads and factories, and, even in poverty, built schools to educate our children. Those children became the driving force behind industrialization and democratization. Korea is the only country among former colonies to succeed in both industrialization and democratization. Last October, Professor Simon Johnson of MIT, who won the Nobel Prize in Economics, said at his post-award press conference, “Look at the Korean economy. It is a model case of a successful nation.”
Fellow members,
We inherited a good country from the previous generation. But can we pass on a good country to our descendants? If politics continues as it is, we will not be able to pass on what we received. Most of you here have children. Even if our policies and political lines differ, we all want the best for our children. Yet, what are we doing now? We are neglecting reforms for our children and future generations. We are failing to solve the tasks of our era: restoring growth engines and competitiveness, labor reform, and pension reform.
There is much talk about reforming the outdated 1987 constitutional system, but not a single step has been taken. I fear that our generation, which has benefited most since the founding of the nation, may leave behind a country with a stalled growth engine, a mountain of national debt, and endless strife and division. I am truly afraid that we, who wrote the exemplary myth of compressed growth, may already be on the path to decline.
Let us now begin with the important tasks we have postponed for so long. Let us properly discuss the priority bills to revitalize the people’s economy, the four major reforms for Korea’s leap forward, nationwide measures to overcome the low birth rate, and constitutional amendment to overcome extreme confrontational politics. Like the fable of Yu Gong Yi Shan, let us steadily accumulate even small achievements without rest.
Honorable citizens,
The People Power Party is Korea’s authentic conservative party. I am proud that the conservative party has led the founding, industrialization, and democratization of Korea. Of course, we have had our faults and pains. It is the duty of younger politicians to inherit the achievements and lessen the faults. Like our predecessors who led Korea’s prosperity through all kinds of hardship, we will strive to solve the tasks of our era. We will surely protect the three pillars that support Korea-liberal democracy, a market economy, and the Korea-US alliance. We will once again build a Korea that advances vigorously. Thank you for listening.
![[Full Text] Kwon Seongdong: "Lee Jaemyung’s Faction Is the Main Culprit of Political Chaos... Decentralized Constitutional Amendment Needed"](https://cphoto.asiae.co.kr/listimglink/1/2025021110363727454_1739237796.jpg)
Kwon Seongdong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is delivering a negotiation group representative speech at the plenary session held at the National Assembly on February 11, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
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