Justice Party's Kwon Youngguk Announces Presidential Bid, Pledges Super-Wealth Tax and Anti-Discrimination Law

Presidential Candidate of the Social Transformation Solidarity
Beyond a Change of Government: Toward Social Transformation
Women's and Sexual Minorities' Rights at the Forefront

Kwon Youngguk, the presidential candidate of the Social Transformation Presidential Election Solidarity and leader of the Justice Party, stated on May 1, "I will build a nation without discrimination, a Republic of Korea where we live together," and declared, "I will become a progressive president who protects us."

Kwon Youngguk, leader of the Justice Party, is holding a press conference for his candidacy. Justice Party

On this day, Kwon held an official press conference announcing his candidacy in front of the Haetae Statue at Gwanghwamun, Jongno-gu, Seoul. He said, "On this 135th Labor Day, I am launching an independent progressive political presidential campaign from Gwanghwamun, carrying the aspirations of all citizens who dream of a great social reform."

Kwon emphasized, "I have always stood with citizens in the public square," adding, "Eight years ago, I was the head of the legal team for the Park Geun-hye Resignation Movement, and when Yoon Suk-yeol was ousted, I was the leader of the Justice Party. Right here, I cried and laughed with you, raising our voices together."

Kwon stated, "The change of government that took place after the first impeachment failed to break the cycle of accumulated discrimination and inequality in our society. Even when citizens gave up their daily lives and gathered in the square, doing everything in their power to remove the president, inequality barely changed and only worsened, leading citizens to despair and resignation."

Kwon continued, "Amid this despair and resignation, discrimination and hatred against the vulnerable, and animosity toward others, grew, giving rise to Yoon Suk-yeol's ruthless politics, which seeks only power without qualification or competence. This time, we must achieve not only a change of government but also a social transformation and political reform."

Kwon declared, "Progressivism is about changing the direction of society. It means enabling all workers staging high-altitude protests to come down to the ground, transforming a world where women are harmed and killed simply because they are women, and changing a society that discriminates against and oppresses sexual minorities, people with disabilities, and migrants."

Kwon is a former fired worker from Poongsan Metal. After passing the bar exam in 1999, he was actively involved in labor issues, serving as a legal representative for Ssangyong Motor's mass layoffs and as head of the investigation team for the Guui Station Kim case. His key pledges include: ▲ electoral system reform ▲ amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act ▲ a 1 million won minimum citizen income ▲ a new super-wealth tax on the top 0.1% ▲ enactment of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law ▲ alternative legislation for the abortion ban ▲ legalization of same-sex marriage ▲ and a refugee law that respects human rights.

Previously, the Justice Party decided at its National Committee and Party Congress, held on April 12-13, to select its presidential candidate through the Social Transformation Presidential Election Solidarity, which consists of the Justice Party, Labor Party, Green Party, and civil society organizations. At the regular party congress held on April 27, a motion to change the party's name to the Democratic Labor Party was passed. If more than half of party members approve in the online and ARS vote scheduled for May 2-5, Democratic Labor Party will become the new party name.