Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Han Min-su [provided by lawmaker's office]
Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Han Min-su [provided by lawmaker's office]

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Han Min-su officially declared his candidacy for a supreme council seat at the party's Aug. 17 national convention at a press conference Tuesday at the National Assembly's communication room.

"I will serve as a supreme council member who is used as a seed of unity, reform and victory," Han said. "South Korea can only succeed if the Lee Jae Myung government succeeds. Even as we compete, I will run solely for the success of the Lee Jae Myung government."

Han introduced himself as "the supreme council candidate who has worked most closely alongside both President Lee and former party leader Jung Chung-rae," adding that he is "the candidate who best knows that President Lee and former leader Jung share the same political vision of a world where the strong are checked and the weak are lifted up."

"We must compete fiercely during the national convention, but once the election is over, we need a supreme council member with the leadership to bring everyone together," he said. "I am the right person for that role."

Han also outlined his vision to use that unifying leadership to achieve cohesion within the pro-democracy reform camp internally, while externally broadening the party's base by supporting President Lee's pragmatic policy line.

He also proposed strengthening mobile and online communication platforms for party members so the Democratic Party can firmly establish itself as a party where member sovereignty is genuine, and said he would make member voting a standing feature in decisions on major policies and issues.

Han said he would create a new generational integration committee within the party to better hear voices across age groups. He also said he would elevate and permanently establish the party's housing welfare special committee as a housing environment improvement committee, working alongside the Lee Jae Myung government to find practical solutions to housing challenges.

"Reform and people's livelihoods are inseparable," Han said. "We will press ahead without wavering on reform of the prosecution, the media and the judiciary — until the public tells us it is enough."


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