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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Progressive coalition forms in North Jeolla to reform 'outdated politics'

From Hankyoreh · (10h ago) Korean Critical tone

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Progressive parties and labor groups in North Jeolla Province have formed a coalition to push for political reform ahead of local elections.
  • The coalition criticizes the entrenched two-party system and the ruling Democratic Party's dominance in the region, arguing it stifles checks and balances and hinders problem-solving.
  • They aim to unseat the current political structure, citing issues like the Saemangeum project and the handling of a past 'state of emergency,' and will support progressive candidates.

In a significant move towards political reform, progressive parties and labor and social organizations in North Jeolla Province have united to launch the 'Social Transformation Jeonbuk Solidarity Council.' This coalition, comprising the Labor Party, Green Party, and Justice Party, aims to challenge the long-standing political landscape dominated by conservative parties and, specifically within the province, the Democratic Party.

In complex crises such as economic recession, deepening inequality, and the climate crisis, the politics of the two conservative parties' monopoly are not solving problems but worsening the situation.

— Social Transformation Jeonbuk Solidarity CouncilIn a press conference announcing the formation of the coalition, they criticized the current political landscape.

The council argues that the current political structure, characterized by a 'one-party dominance' in Jeonbuk, has rendered oversight and accountability mechanisms ineffective. They point to a history of uncontested elections and a lack of genuine checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches, leading to a 'hollowing out' of regional politics over the past three decades. The coalition also criticized large-scale development projects like Saemangeum, asserting that despite massive investment, the quality of life for residents has not improved, and accountability has been absent.

In Jeonbuk, the Democratic Party's one-party dominance has rendered the functions of checks and balances virtually powerless.

— Social Transformation Jeonbuk Solidarity CouncilThe coalition highlighted the issues stemming from the Democratic Party's long-standing control in the province.

Furthermore, the council condemned the regional political leadership's response to a past 'state of emergency,' accusing them of prioritizing central authority over constitutional principles. They also voiced strong disappointment with recent scandals involving alleged bribery and misuse of funds during the Democratic Party's primary elections, as well as issues related to the nomination of candidates responsible for major accidents. The coalition views the upcoming local elections as a crucial opportunity to 'judge the remnants of the internal strife' and dismantle the 'two-party monopoly,' ushering in a new era of politics in Jeonbuk based on constitutional values.

The political behavior revealed ahead of the local elections is causing great disappointment to the citizens.

— Social Transformation Jeonbuk Solidarity CouncilThe coalition expressed strong criticism regarding recent scandals within the Democratic Party.
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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