Democratic Party Candidates Propose 'Integration Solutions'

The presidential candidates from the Democratic Party of Korea have each presented different solutions to the challenge of 'integration.'

At the debate hosted by TV Chosun on the 25th, Lee Jae-myung, former leader of the Democratic Party, pointed out the political conflict issues in our society, emphasizing that the next president must resolve them.

Former leader Lee stated, "When I came to the National Assembly, I found that members of the National Assembly do not speak when they belong to different factions," adding, "I do not understand why it has to be like that." He continued, "The essential responsibility of the presidency is integration," stressing that "to prevent national division, interests must be well adjusted, and powers need to be unified for the country to develop and for citizens to properly seize opportunities."

In particular, he expressed a strong stance regarding political retaliation. He asserted, "That should not happen," stating, "It's not because I like a person, but we have so many tasks to accomplish in a short time; we cannot waste time on such matters."

He also mentioned, "I am happy when people are happy through politics," but noted, "There is a lot of doubt from people regarding this, and they do not understand even when promises are made." He further lamented, "No matter how much I promise (not to engage in political retaliation), they do not understand my words, and the suspicion continues."

Former leader Lee emphasized, "Citizens are struggling, the economy is deteriorating, and peace is threatened, so it is a time we need to unite," stating, "We must recognize and respect each other beyond small differences and compromise."

Former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo proposed 'political structural reform' as a solution to the integration issue. He pointed out, "The biggest reason is that politics is structured in a winner-takes-all manner," saying that "there is a pervasive sense of crisis in the political sphere that if we do not seize power this time, we could politically be ruined." He added, "We need to change the winner-takes-all structure, including the electoral system, and there must be an opportunity for both ruling and opposition parties to engage in dialogue on any issue."

However, he drew the line by stating, "Coexistence with insurrectionary forces is difficult," pointing out that "to describe legally punishing insurrectionary forces as political retaliation is absurd."

Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon emphasized the need for a change in the Democratic Party's attitude. He stated, "The current Constitution and electoral system breed a winner-takes-all and adversarial relationship," declaring that "constitutional amendments and electoral law reforms are essential." Governor Kim added, "We should not only demand integration from others but the Democratic Party must also reflect and show sincerity by letting go of vested interests, as it is important to build trust."

Image source: News1