Announcement of Ten Major Pledges... Includes Constitutional Amendment and Five Major Reforms
Ahn: "An Action Plan for an Era Change and a National Leap Forward"
Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party who declared his candidacy for the 21st presidential election, announced on the 13th ten major pledges, including fostering five super-gap industries: artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, future mobility, bio, and K-service industries.
On the same day, Ahn held a pledge announcement event at the National Assembly and stated, "I will make the Republic of Korea the most dynamic and strongest country in the world."
Based on nurturing the five strategic industries, he promised to enter the world's top three in AI by 2035, secure semiconductor technology sovereignty, achieve research and development investment at 5% of the gross domestic product (GDP), cultivate one million core talents in science and technology, and realize a startup nation with a K-startup fund worth 20 trillion won.
He also reiterated his promise to hold a national referendum on a decentralized constitutional amendment, including the introduction of a responsible prime minister system and a large electoral district system, during the 2026 local elections. Ahn explained, "If we fail to stop the current division and confusion among the people and the tyranny of the major opposition party, there is no future for Korea. Instead of the already expired 1987 constitutional system, we will promote a national referendum on a decentralized constitutional amendment together with the 2026 local elections to appropriately reduce the powers of the president and the National Assembly."
Regarding five major reforms?pension reform, education reform, labor reform, medical reform, and public reform?Ahn mentioned reducing the burden on future generations, pledging, "We will complete pension reform, implement AI-centered curricula, expand flexible work, resolve medical gaps, and streamline the public sector to create an efficient government."
He also mentioned ending the era of local extinction and opening the era of local governments through balanced regional development. Ahn emphasized, "We will boldly transfer central authority and budgets to local governments," adding, "By establishing a national land use master plan, we will open a true era of local development and local government, not indiscriminate handouts or distribution."
By region, he promised to establish Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) as an advanced industry and smart manufacturing hub; Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (Boo-Ul-Gyeong) as a marine industry, defense, and aerospace center; Chungcheong region as a future advanced technology, space, and mobility hub; Honam region as an AI, green energy, agricultural life, and convergence industry center; and Gangwon and Jeju regions as marine bio, digital healthcare cluster, and eco-tourism centers.
He also stressed his commitment to housing welfare, including a child allowance of 300,000 won, differentiated increases in basic pensions by income bracket, care for the disabled and elderly, a national responsibility system for dementia, elimination of welfare blind spots, special housing supply for youth and newlyweds, long-term fixed-rate loans at benchmark interest rates, tax relief for single-homeowners, new foreigner speculation taxes, and the creation of three smart new towns.
As measures against low birthrate and low fertility, he pledged a national responsibility system for care of children aged 0 to 5, childbirth and childcare support funds of 10 million won, support for male parental leave and return of career-interrupted workers, and immigration policies to secure scientific and technological talents.
Regarding diplomacy, security, and unification, he revealed plans to strengthen the Korea-US alliance, expand autonomous defense capabilities, establish a nuclear sharing agreement, enter the G7 by 2030, create a global AI cooperation body, and simultaneously pursue non-political inter-Korean cooperation and a peace strategy for the Korean Peninsula.
He introduced plans to achieve a 30% grain payment rate, support youth agricultural startups, strengthen safety management of imported agricultural and livestock products, prepare for a sustainable future of rural areas through improvements in the foreign worker system, accelerate greenhouse gas reduction, develop next-generation nuclear power plants, establish a carbon emissions trading market and eco-friendly incentives, and respond to the climate crisis through bio-material conversion and smart eco-city creation.
Regarding the pledges announced that day, Ahn emphasized, "This is an action plan for an era change and a national leap forward," adding, "A fair country where honest people do not suffer losses, hardworking people receive just rewards, and everyone grows together. I will definitely create that future."
He particularly highlighted, "As a doctor, I have protected the lives of the people; as an IT entrepreneur and manager, I have built industries and created jobs," and "As the only incumbent politician who has overseen the entire state affairs as the presidential transition committee chairman and designed 110 national tasks."
He also took aim at former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, a lawyer by profession; former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, a former prosecutor; and former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, saying, "It is an era where scientists and economists who understand the future, not past legal professionals, must lead the country."
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