Jin Sungjoon Highlights Leadership Experience as Policy Committee Chair
"Stabilizing Parliamentary Operations Comes First... Expanding Party Member Participation System"
Assemblyman Jin Sungjoon of the Democratic Party of Korea has become the first candidate to announce his bid in the ruling party’s by-election for floor leader. Jin stated that he will focus on stabilizing the party during the remaining four-month term and will not seek re-election.
On the 31st, at the National Assembly’s press center in Yeouido, Assemblyman Jin held a press conference to declare his candidacy for the floor leader by-election, saying, “If I am entrusted with the role of floor leader by party members and fellow lawmakers, I will serve only for the remainder of the term and will not seek another term.” He added, “The top priority for the new floor leader, who will be chosen through this by-election, is to stabilize the party’s parliamentary operations. Moreover, there are several outstanding lawmakers who have long prepared to become floor leader.”
Jin pledged that during his approximately four-month term, he would achieve the following: stabilize parliamentary operations and prepare for a party member-centered parliamentary system reform; eradicate forces of insurrection and restore the livelihood economy; and realize unity between the party, government, and presidential office. Jin has previously served as the party’s Strategy Planning Committee Chair, Senior Deputy Floor Leader, and Policy Committee Chair.
The new floor leader will serve for about four months, completing the remainder of the term left by Kim Byungki, the former floor leader who resigned the previous day. The Democratic Party plans to announce the results of the floor leader by-election in line with the Supreme Council by-election scheduled for the 11th of next month.
Jin also pledged to lead the Democratic Party to victory in next year’s local elections. He stated, “We must win overwhelmingly to secure stable momentum for state governance and to ensure the success of the Lee Jaemyung administration. If, by any chance, we fail to decisively defeat the remnants of the insurrection, the momentum for governance will suffer a serious blow.”
Immediately after the press conference, when asked by a reporter about his previous disagreements with the Lee Jaemyung administration over tax reform, and how he would handle differences between the party and the presidential office, Jin responded, “Broadly speaking, it’s not as if I have always clashed with President Lee Jaemyung’s tax proposals. There have been disagreements, but there have also been times when I advocated from the president’s perspective.” He emphasized, “I believe this has been a healthy and productive process of debate, and if a conclusion is reached through such a process, I will accept it.”
He also pledged to further expand the party member participation system in line with the era of party member sovereignty. Referring to Party Leader Jung Cheongrae’s pledge for a ‘one-member, one-vote’ system for full party members, Jin said, “I believe we should open the way for party members to directly participate not only in leadership elections but also in major decision-making processes of the party. There needs to be a system in place that allows party members to directly participate in key policy legislation and other matters that require the party’s official position.”
When asked whether he recognizes the opposition party as a negotiation counterpart, Jin replied, “Whether I acknowledge it or not, the reality is that they exist as our counterpart.” He added, “Fortunately, Song Eonseok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, was my counterpart when I served as Senior Deputy Floor Leader. Since we have worked together and competed before, I don’t foresee major communication issues.”
Meanwhile, other potential candidates for the new floor leader position include Assemblymen Park Jeong, Baek Hyeryeon, and Han Byeongdo. Supreme Council member Lee Eonju and Secretary-General Cho Seungrae are also being mentioned.
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