Ko Min-jung, a member of the Democratic Party, announced her candidacy for the party leadership on July 8, stating, "I will lead the success of the Lee government with a 'young Democratic Party' that brightens the future of youth and protects the daily lives of the people."
During a press conference at the National Assembly, Ko expressed her determination, saying, "I stand here today with a sense of urgency to declare my candidacy for the party leadership election."
She noted that the recent local elections showed that the 2030 generation has turned away from the Democratic Party, stating, "We have been a force that has failed to address the issues that matter to the people's lives, repeatedly engaging in internal conflicts. We must acknowledge this and reflect deeply on what we have lacked in the face of the people's warning, seeking alternatives."
Ko emphasized the need for the Democratic Party to innovate as a young party that nurtures the youth as new leaders, saying, "We will not only call on the youth when we need them but will cultivate them as the owners of the Democratic Party." She announced plans to open a certain percentage of key party positions to young people through a youth position allocation system and to establish a 'Youth Future Committee' directly under the party leader for communication and discussion.
Additionally, Ko addressed the recent heated factional conflicts within the party regarding the leadership race, calling for internal unity. She stated, "We must refrain from stigmatizing language and instead recognize and communicate with each other to find alternatives. Without internal unity, we cannot expand our outreach, and without outreach, we cannot win the hearts of the majority of the people. We need to engage in discussions and communication with a vision that illuminates the future of South Korea, rather than engaging in meaningless debates."
She concluded by pledging to inherit the achievements of former President Moon Jae-in, which have been undermined by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, and to lead the Democratic Party in supporting the success of the Lee government, stating, "I will take the lead in creating a united Democratic Party."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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