Kwon Youngguk Says "Lee Jaemyung Has Shifted Toward Conservatives... Retreat on Distribution Policies"

"Uncertainty Over Whether There Is Any Difference from the People Power Party"

Kwon Youngguk, the Democratic Labor Party presidential candidate, criticized on May 22, "(Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate's) pledges have shifted significantly toward the conservative side."

Kwon Youngguk, the Democratic Labor Party candidate, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at an office in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 2nd. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

On the SBS program 'Kim Taehyun's Political Show' that day, Kwon stated, "He has policies that have, in effect, retreated from the previous protection of workers' and ordinary people's rights or distribution policies," and added, "He calls himself a centrist conservative, but is mainly presenting growth strategies."

Kwon also pointed out, "(Lee) is essentially sidelining the prohibition of discrimination against minorities as an issue for later," and said, "There are considerable doubts as to whether the Semiconductor Special Act is any different from that of the People Power Party."

Regarding his refusal to shake hands with Kim Moonsu, the People Power Party candidate, Kwon explained, "Candidate Kim has not apologized for or acknowledged his wrongdoing regarding the insurrection," and added, "One should only be eligible to run in this election if they acknowledge the illegality of the unlawful martial law. I did not accept the handshake because I was concerned it might be perceived as condoning his wrongdoing."

Kwon was selected as a candidate by the Presidential Solidarity for Social Transformation, which is composed of the Justice Party, Labor Party, Green Party, and civil society organizations. Kwon, a former dismissed worker at Poongsan Metal, passed the bar exam in 1999 and has since worked in labor fields, including as a legal representative for Ssangyong Motor's mass layoff case. His main pledges include: ▲ electoral system reform ▲ revision of Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act ▲ a citizen minimum income of 1 million won ▲ and the introduction of a super-wealth tax on the top 0.1%.