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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Democratic Party candidate calls for leader fully aligned with president

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Kim Min-seok, a candidate for the Democratic Party leadership, stated the party needs a leader fully aligned with the president.
  • He expressed concern that the party's current direction and methods are insufficient to win upcoming general elections.
  • Kim emphasized the need for the party to grow and demonstrate its strength to regain public confidence and support the government.

Kim Min-seok, a contender for the leadership of the Democratic Party, declared that the party requires a leader whose vision aligns perfectly, even "200%," with that of the president. He suggested that the party's current leadership style and direction are not conducive to success.

We need to elect new leadership through this national convention, but should we continue with the same leadership, the same methods, and the same path as before? I don't think so.

— Kim Min-seokExpressing his view on the need for change in the Democratic Party's leadership.

Speaking at a press conference in Jeonju on Thursday, Kim stated, "We need to elect new leadership through this national convention, but should we continue with the same leadership, the same methods, and the same path as before? I don't think so." He added, "It's good to have 100%, even 200% alignment with the president."

Kim voiced concerns about the party's current standing, noting that the People Power Party, which had previously lagged behind, is now competitive and even leading in some polls. "In the past year, the People Power Party, which couldn't even keep up, has not only caught up but is even winning by 1-2 percentage points in some surveys," he said. "If the general elections were held tomorrow, we must seriously consider whether we can confidently maintain our current seats and win."

It's good to have 100%, even 200% alignment with the president.

— Kim Min-seokStating his preference for a leader closely aligned with the president.

He stressed the importance of the party demonstrating strength and attracting talent, especially if it were the ruling party. "If we are the ruling party, we must grow through alliances, integration, and recruitment," Kim explained. "We need to show the public that we are still the dominant force and that talented individuals are flocking to us. Only then can the government remain stable."

In the past year, the People Power Party, which couldn't even keep up, has not only caught up but is even winning by 1-2 percentage points in some surveys.

— Kim Min-seokHighlighting the shift in political polling and the challenge faced by his party.

Kim believes he is best suited to lead this transformation. "I think I can best lead the party's direction in this way," he asserted. He also called for the party to accelerate its efforts, stating, "The party needs to change to compete with the speed of the government." He criticized the party for being too narrowly focused over the past year, arguing that now is the time for rapid progress. "The party has been too limited in the topics it has focused on and concentrated on for the past year, but now that a direction has been set, we must run at full speed."

If we are the ruling party, we must grow through alliances, integration, and recruitment.

— Kim Min-seokOutlining his strategy for the party to strengthen its position.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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