New Democratic Party Leader Vows Support for President's Agenda, Emphasizes 'One Team'

Kim Min-seok, the newly elected leader of South Korea's Democratic Party, has pledged to actively support President Yoon Suk Yeol's national agenda, signaling a commitment to a "one-team" approach between the ruling party and the presidential office. Meeting with Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Han-seok, Kim expressed his intention to foster seamless communication and cooperation, stating, "We will be a team without walls."

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We will be a team without walls.

Kim articulated the party's new policy direction, dubbed the "ABC Plan," which prioritizes affordability, broadening policies, and competence. He further incorporated "security" into this framework, playfully noting that combining ABC with S and rearranging the letters forms "CABS," akin to taxis. "From now on, the Democratic Party will be a 'people's taxi' that runs diligently from dawn," Kim declared, emphasizing the party's commitment to addressing the public's needs.

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From now on, the Democratic Party will be a 'people's taxi' that runs diligently from dawn.

Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Han-seok welcomed Kim's stance, highlighting the importance of party-government unity. "The fact that the Chief of Staff is here to present a congratulatory flower, rather than the Senior Political Secretary, shows how important we recognize the role of the party and the government working as one team," Kang stated. He expressed confidence in Kim's leadership, anticipating that the Democratic Party will become a "solid one" under his guidance, energized by the recent leadership contest.

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The fact that the Chief of Staff is here to present a congratulatory flower, rather than the Senior Political Secretary, shows how important we recognize the role of the party and the government working as one team.

Park Sung-joon, the Democratic Party's senior spokesperson, described the meeting as highly significant, marking the first step towards achieving party-government unity. He suggested that Kim's emphasis on "broadening politics" and "additive politics" within his ABC framework implicitly includes a willingness to engage in bipartisan cooperation, including potential outreach to opposition parties.

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The fact that the Chief of Staff is here to present a congratulatory flower, rather than the Senior Political Secretary, shows how important we recognize the role of the party and the government working as one team.