“I’m the one who crossed the line with President Lee Jae Myung.”Rep. Song Young-gil, a candidate for..

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사진 확대 [Democratic Party candidate Song Young Gil’s camp]

“I’m the one who crossed the line with President Lee Jae Myung.”

Rep. Song Young-gil, a candidate for the party’s leadership at the August 17 National Convention of the Democratic Party of Korea, emphasized “responsible politics” by explaining his political life like this.

Candidate Song is considered a representative figure in the pro-Myeong community. During the 2022 presidential election, he went on the campaign trail the next day with a bandage on his head after being hammered during candidate Lee Jae Myung’s campaign, and immediately after his defeat in the presidential election, he resigned as party leader, saying he would take responsibility.

He explained that it was in the same context that he gave up his district, Gyeyang-eul, Incheon, to a candidate at the time of Lee Jae Myung and ran for mayor of Seoul.

In a written interview with Maekyung AX on the 9th, he emphasized his relationship with President Lee and at the same time poured out relentless criticism against Chung Chung-rae, a competitor at the convention.

Regarding candidate Chung’s bid for a second term, he called it “the end of self-politics” and argued that “it goes head-on against the tradition of responsible politics of the Democratic Party.” If he becomes the party leader, he will liquidate the culture of “self-politics” established in the Democratic Party.

Another key keyword that candidate Song puts forward is “pragmatic.” Referring to his experience as the only candidate for the party’s leadership, he said that he took charge of Incheon, which was on the verge of bankruptcy, and settled the biocluster around Songdo International City.

On the real estate issue, he insisted on “shut up and supply” by emphasizing supply rather than regulation. He also proposed the “Jangbo 100,000 Project” aimed at young people, supplying 50,000 U.S. military return sites in Yongsan, impeaching Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, and easing requirements for the Cho Kuk Innovation Party negotiating group.

The following is a question-and-answer session with Song Young-gil.

사진 확대 [Democratic Party candidate Song Young Gil’s camp]

Q. What is the first task you will pursue when you become the party leader.

A. I will solve the problem of people’s livelihoods first. The real estate issue is especially important. I’ve been insisting on ‘shut up and supply’ all along. While announcing his candidacy for the party’s leadership race, he was the only candidate to come up with measures such as the supply policy of 50,000 new apartments in Yongsan.

We will also strongly push for the impeachment of Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae while taking care of people’s livelihoods, focusing on real estate. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Cho (refusing to appoint a Supreme Court justice) shows the same behavior as he dragged on the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Ma Eun-hyuk in the former acting system of Han Deok-soo and Choi Sang-mok. It is considered that it is an act of violating constitutional obligations and legal duties for the head of the Supreme Court who has the right to propose the appointment of a Supreme Court justice to deliberately avoid the authority without exercising his or her authority.

Q. What changes do you want to make at the party level.

A. Song Young-gil is the “first lady” and Chung Cheong-rae is the “last king of self-politics.” Chung Chung-rae, the former leader of the party, sought to serve a second term as the party’s leader by using his position as the party’s leader.

Local election nominations are criticized for filling them with their own people, and it was reported that 800 special advisors were appointed during his tenure, 920 vice-chairman of the policy committee, and 400 vice-chairman of the strategic planning committee. It is enough to be suspected of pushing for ‘socialization’.

The reason why the word “Myeongcheong Daejeon” came out is because of this self-politics. Isn’t it irresponsible self-politics to run for a second term by claiming that he won after losing in local elections. It runs squarely counter to the Democratic Party’s tradition of “responsible politics.”

If I become the party leader, I will eliminate this culture of ‘self-politics’. It should be liquidated more thoroughly because it has implanted something that is not the existing political culture of the Democratic Party.

Q. The factional conflict is intensifying like never before ahead of the national convention.

A. I don’t worry too much about the aftermath of the primary. If I become the party leader, I will embrace it with an inclusive attitude. During the national convention, there is usually a fierce battle for the line. But after the race, you have to accept the results, and Democrats have always done that.

At the 2021 national convention, candidates Song Young-gil, Woo Won-sik, and Hong Young-pyo competed fiercely, and I became the party leader. Since then, the leadership has not had any of my immediate supreme council members who had a convention with me, but I think I have led the party with leadership of unity without division.

사진 확대 [Democratic Party candidate Song Young Gil’s camp]

Q. Public sentiment regarding real estate and stock markets has not been good recently. What role do you think the party should play.

A. Recently, the government announced a tax reform plan as some people are concerned about increasing the tax burden and worsening housing and living stability, and I think it is a tax reform tailored to the reality of real estate.

However, taxes and financial regulations alone cannot solve the real estate problem. The root of the real estate problem is supply. There is a need for ‘shut up and supply’ (to reiterate).

It is necessary to immediately expand the supply of modular housing and urban areas, including 50,000 U.S. military return sites in Yongsan, and normalize financial support and PF regulations for end-users. We will push for two things together: preventing speculation with tax systems and giving houses to the people through supply.

Q. “Leaving the youth base” seems to be one of the biggest topics at the convention. Do you have any pledges to restore support for the 2030 generation.

A. There is a ‘Jangbo 100,000 Project’ presented as the second policy pledge after the Yongsan 50,000 Housing Supply Plan when announcing his candidacy for the party’s leadership.

This is a national-level talent training plan to send 100,000 young people to various parts of the world to develop global experience and start-up capabilities. The key is to use excess tax revenue generated by the semiconductor boom as a financial resource to support 1,000 people to work abroad for one to two years every year. As I know that the government is also responding positively, I think it is highly likely to become a reality.

Q. How do you plan to form a relationship with the power of the people.

A. There will be no childish protruding act like “handshake with people” like the former party leader. I will demonstrate parliamentary leadership as the ruling party and the leader of the majority of the first party.

However, in order for the ruling and opposition parties to work together in practice, the people’s power must also change. As in the Jang Dong-hyuk regime, if you continue to take the line of ‘Yoon-e-gain’ or defend the civil war, you have no choice but to respond firmly.

사진 확대 [Democratic Party candidate Song Young Gil’s camp]

Q. How do you plan to resolve the issue of integration or solidarity with the Cho Kuk Innovation Party.

A. Chung Chung-rae and Kim Eo-jun say as if Jung Won-oh lost the Seoul mayoral election because of the failure to integrate with Cho Kuk’s innovation party, which is absurd.

The Cho Kuk Innovation Party has not even nominated a candidate for Seoul. What nonsense is that. I don’t know why you’re so obsessed with the merger. Can the Lee Jae Myung government succeed only by merging with the Cho Kuk Innovation Party? Rather, I don’t think it would have helped win the hearts of the 2030 generation or the middle class.

Before discussing election integration or solidarity, the most urgent thing is to make the Cho Kuk Innovation Party self-reliant. Under the National Assembly Act, the government will push for a bill to lower the number of bargaining groups with more than 20 lawmakers to more than 10. As a bargaining organization, it is reasonable to discuss solidarity or integration after that if it allows it to operate on the floor and makes its identity clear.

Q. How do you view the recent trend of the party leader’s opinion polls.

A. There is an optical illusion in the polls. Attention is being paid to the so-called “reverse selection” situation in which supporters of the people’s power choose candidate Chung Chung-rae in large numbers.

What does this mean. Wouldn’t the supporters of the people’s power think, “Only when Chung Cheong-rae becomes the representative, the Lee Jae Myung government will be ruined by the lame duck?” and do it as if they are holding a memorial service? That is the objective reality.

In fact, key members of the People’s Power, such as Ahn Cheol Soo and Kwon Young-se, are openly expressing their inner feelings, saying, “It is most advantageous to be Jeong Cheong-rae.” They believe that Chung Chung-rae’s consecutive terms are the most advantageous for them to win the general election due to the continued conflict between Myung-cheong.

Chung Chung-rae won’t be re-elected because our Democrats can’t be unaware of that.

Q. What is the decisive difference between the two contenders and Song Young-gil. Also, if I were to pick the biggest weakness of the two candidates.

A. I have the only experience of being the head of a metropolitan government. In charge of Incheon, which was on the verge of bankruptcy, he overcame the crisis and settled a world-class bio-cluster in Songdo International City. It demonstrated practical leadership and surplus leadership that directly ran metropolitan administration to produce results and results. It is similar to how President Lee Jae Myung was highly regarded for his practical leadership while serving as Seongnam Mayor and Gyeonggi-do Governor (in the past).

I think I’m the right person to succeed in the Lee Jae Myung government’s three major megaclusters early. The strengths and differences that I have are the weaknesses of the two different candidates.

사진 확대 [Democratic Party candidate Song Young Gil’s camp]

Q. What is your position on the dispute over the possibility of political intervention by certain religious organizations such as Shincheonji?

A. It has been revealed that Shincheonji has already intervened in the race for the People’s Power presidential candidate. Political intervention by a particular religious organization is an act of destroying party democracy. The Constitution also stipulates that “religion and politics are separated.” Both the ruling and opposition parties should come up with institutional measures to block them in advance. Thorough investigation is also needed.

Q. Recently, writer Rhyu Si-min has made a series of critical comments about President Lee Jae Myung.

A. It is more important that Yoo’s remarks can shake the president and divide the ruling camp’s supporters than what he meant. “The reform is delayed because the president does not want it” or “the president will not succeed” are just curses and bad words.

Even in this situation, Chung Chung-rae has not said a word. Whenever he opens his mouth, he shouts “Loyalty” and Lee Jae Myung only says he will protect it. Is it protecting Lee Jae Myung’s president to remain silent in the face of curses and bad words? (I want to ask back). If you shake the president without grounds like writer Yoo, I will not tolerate it.

Q. What is the ultimate goal of politician Song Young-gil.

A. First, we are only thinking about the success of the Lee Jae Myung administration, secondly, the success of the Lee Jae Myung administration, and thirdly, the success of the Lee Jae Myung administration.

How did the Lee Jae Myung government make it? It is a “revolution of light” government created by citizens who held cheering sticks in the cold streets on a cold winter night and shouted for the impeachment of the Yoon Suk Yeol. If such a Lee Jae Myung government is to succeed, the civil war must be completely ended, and if the civil war is to be completely ended, it must be re-created.

My final goal now is to succeed the Lee Jae Myung government by creating an irreplaceable Republic that no one can shake.

사진 확대