Kim Min-seok, a candidate in the Democratic Party of Korea's Aug. 17 national convention leadership race, said Monday he would accelerate Hyundai Motor's investment at Saemangeum in North Jeolla Province and attract large-scale follow-on investment to the region. He also pledged to push ahead with livelihood and economic policies, including a party-led drive to boost housing supply.
Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly's media center, Kim said he would make the success of the "Honam Daehan Three Mega-Projects" — a plan to spread semiconductor and AI industries from the Honam region to Chungcheong, Yeongnam and the rest of the country — the Democratic Party's top priority.
He also outlined plans to place the body overseeing the three mega-projects at the heart of the party's organizational structure, with himself directly managing the work if elected leader. "This reflects my determination to make it a national project driven jointly by the president and the party leader, with the party leader taking direct responsibility," Kim said.
On concerns raised during the push for the mega-projects — including calls for exemptions from the 52-hour workweek rule — Kim said differences of opinion could arise between businesses and government, between central and local authorities, and among ministries. "I will work to resolve those issues in a comprehensive way," he said.
He added that if elected party leader, he would designate one of the two appointed supreme council seats for a youth representative and the other for a representative from labor. "I will bring labor's voice into the leadership and work through these issues wisely in consultation with them," he said.
Kim also presented pledges on housing and the broader economy. He said he would launch a "democratic progressive solidarity" initiative, including cooperative dialogue with the Rebuilding Korea Party, and embark on a large-scale recruitment of talent focused on people's livelihoods. "I will kick off a party-led housing supply drive and pursue dignified basic social policies as part of an integrated livelihood-economy push," he said.
He said he would form a "Seoul Policy Review Team" immediately upon taking office as party leader to personally oversee party and government policies related to Seoul.
Targeting younger voters, Kim said he would open a dedicated youth and civic debate space in Seoul — a "Second Gwanghwa Party Office" — and promote youth culture festivals in Daegu and Iksan. He also unveiled a "Young Democratic Party Plan" that includes launching youth-student party-government consultations, establishing a party "1030 Policy Task Force," and introducing a political and administrative internship program for young party members.
Kim laid out his thinking on next year's by-elections as well. "Under my responsibility as party leader, I will immediately begin preparing for the 2027 Seoul mayoral race and the Gangneung National Assembly by-election, and after those elections I will seek a vote of confidence to reestablish the ethics of responsible politics," he said. The timing of the Seoul mayoral election remains uncertain, as incumbent Mayor Oh Se-hoon is still subject to ongoing court proceedings under the Public Official Election Act.
Kim expressed confidence about the state of the race with one week to go before the convention. "I still judge that the nationwide trend among Democratic Party supporters, including in the greater Seoul area, favors me," he said. "In the votes counted so far I hold a slim lead, and I expect the Honam vote to end in at least a draw — if not a win — with that trend holding in the greater Seoul area as well."
On rival candidate Jung Chung-rae's claim that media coverage has been unfavorable to him, Kim pushed back. "Candidate Jung served as party leader right up until just before the announcement of his re-election decision and has a broad organizational base across the country," he said. "For him to describe himself in any way as the underdog is, I think, a bit too much humility."
thanks@heraldcorp.com
