DPK unveils election campaign committee with emphasis on unity

Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, center, salutes the national flag with senior campaign officials during the launch ceremony of the party’s “Real Korea” presidential election committee at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. From front row right, former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, Federation of Korean Trade Unions chief Kim Dong-myeong, former Environment Minister Yoon Yeo-joon, Lee, acting party leader and floor leader Park Chan-dae, former Justice Minister Kang Kum-sil and former Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong. Yonhap

Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate for the liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), launched his election campaign committee on Wednesday, unveiling a leadership team that includes conservative figures and members of party factions previously critical of him — a step aimed at bridging internal divisions ahead of the June 3 presidential race.

Notable appointments include former Environment Minister Yoon Yeo-joon, a respected conservative elder, and former lawmaker Park Yong-jin, who was at the center of a controversy surrounding the exclusion of members of anti-Lee factions during previous nominations. Their inclusion in the campaign team serves as a symbolic demonstration of Lee’s commitment to party unity.

Former South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Kim Kyung-soo and ex-Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, both seen as prominent anti-Lee figures, have also joined the committee as co-chairs. Kwon Oh-eul, a former conservative lawmaker aligned with centrist politician Yoo Seong-min, is expected to take part in the campaign as well.

In addition, DPK floor leader Rep. Park Chan-dae will serve as a chief campaign chair, while senior party official Rep. Kim Min-seok will oversee operations. Secretary-General Kim Yoon-deok will manage internal affairs.

The expanded leadership team also includes former Disease Control and Prevention Agency chief Jeong Eun-kyeong and former Justice Minister Kang Kum-sil as campaign co-chairs, alongside former lawmaker Woo Sang-ho as a standing campaign chair — highlighting a calculated effort to broaden the party’s appeal across ideological lines.

The Democratic Party’s new election campaign committee members announced Wednesday. From left, former Environment Minister Yoon Yeo-joon, former Justice Minister Kang Kum-sil, former Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong, former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum and former South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Kim Kyoung-soo. Yonhap

Lee, who secured the party’s nomination on Sunday, has emphasized performance and competence over loyalty in his staffing choices. When asked about the campaign’s formation, he told reporters, “The party will take the lead, but a broad range of people should be brought on board.”

In his victory speech, Lee said the era of ideological division and factional strife was over, signaling a clear departure from his contentious 2021 primary battle, when internal clashes with then-rival Lee Nak-yon — a former prime minister and seasoned politician — undermined party unity.

Political analysts note that this time, Lee seems intent on avoiding similar fractures by launching his campaign swiftly and assembling a broader coalition to minimize political risks ahead of the 22nd presidential election.

Separately, Lee also pledged to overhaul the nation’s work culture by introducing a 4.5-day workweek, a key labor policy aimed at improving work-life balance and reducing excessive labor hours.

He vowed to bring Korea’s average working hours below the OECD average by 2030 and to set the stage for a long-term transition to a four-day workweek. His proposals include support measures for businesses adopting the 4.5-day workweek, easing eligibility rules for paid annual leave, mandating the use of saved leave within three years and permitting the rollover of unused vacation days.