Lawmaker Ko Min-jung announces bid for Democratic Party leadership, vows 'younger party'

South Korean lawmaker Ko Min-jung has declared her candidacy for the leadership of the Democratic Party, vowing to forge a "younger Democratic Party" that actively engages with and cultivates the younger generation. Announcing her bid on June 8, Ko stated her intention to create a party that "listens to the voices of young people from the outside and nurtures them from the inside."

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I will create a path for a young Democratic Party that listens to the voices of young people from the outside and nurtures them from the inside.

Ko invoked the legacies of past leaders, including Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in, aiming to build a "Democratic Party for All" that represents the majority of the public and improves their lives. She stressed the urgent need for change within the party, advocating for an end to "stigmatizing and name-calling language" in favor of mutual recognition, communication, and the pursuit of solutions. "We must change," she asserted, warning that a focus on internal power struggles and meaningless debates would jeopardize the party's chances in future elections and its ability to regain power.

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We must change. We must put an end to stigmatizing and name-calling language, and instead recognize and communicate with each other to find solutions.

Reflecting on the party's recent electoral setbacks, particularly among the 2030 youth demographic, Ko acknowledged criticisms that the Democratic Party is perceived as a "vested interest group that created and neglected disparities" and a "hypocritical force that kicked away the ladder of social mobility after climbing it." She also recognized the perception of the party as being "out of touch with people's lives, repeating internal conflicts over issues the public doesn't care about."

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If we are absorbed in power struggles and repeat meaningless debates that have nothing to do with people's lives, it will be difficult to win the general election or regain power.

Ko highlighted the deepening "shadow of K-polarization" across income, assets, and employment, noting the stark contrast between booming industries offering high bonuses and young people struggling to find jobs. She argued that politics must focus on the majority of people facing precarious futures, where stable lives and homeownership are increasingly out of reach. Her platform prioritizes practical approaches to housing and employment, including securing housing supply in Seoul, expanding rental market policies, easing loan regulations for young couples, and reforming property taxes. She also proposed directing any surplus tax revenue from the semiconductor boom towards youth and future investments.

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The Democratic Party is a ruling party that must take responsibility for the lives of the people, along with the Lee Jae-myung administration.