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| Lee Dong-hak, former renovation committee member of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, speaks in an interview with The Korea Times. / Korea Times photo by Choi Ha-young |
By Choi Ha-young
Lee Dong-hak, former renovation committee member of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has been a maverick in the ruling party, never hesitating to make cutting remarks against the party's senior lawmakers to make room for young politicians.
The 36-year-old is now preparing a round-the-world trip posing as a "chief of the global village." For two years beginning in August, he will visit 60 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and South and North America.
By staying two to three weeks in each country, he is planning to make in-depth studies through interviews with citizens, civic activists, policy makers, experts, entrepreneurs and labor union members. His curiosity is simple but serious ― how do other countries tackle social conflicts.
"Korea will face a dramatic change amid a plunging birthrate and an increasing aging population. This must ignite various conflicts between the generations and between men and women, as well as between employers and workers. I hope to see how other countries deal with this," Lee said in a recent interview with The Korea Times.
"Conflicts will become fiercer, since various natural resources are running out along with climate change. From the texts I have read, I want to see the global issues from a broader angle," he added.
Lee worked for former presidential hopeful An Hee-jung drawing up youth policies. As an up-and-coming politician, he has struggled to make the voices of young people heard in the DPK which has never been easy. This is why Lee is interested in the quota for females and young people in the political parties of other countries.
"It seems like Northern European countries take quotas for females, young people and social minorities for granted. Politicians here easily come up with blueprints of equality citing statistics in these countries, but what I wonder is how they achieved it," Lee said. "There must be struggles, wounds and compromises behind it. That's what I have to observe as a politician."
In early August, he will head to Japan. He is keen to learn about the curriculum at Matsushita Institute of Government and Management, a school that nurtures young people who dream of becoming career politicians.
"South Korean political parties lack a system to promote young people to become politicians. It's all up to individuals, like what I've done. I want to see the institute's program firsthand and interview the politicians who took the courses."
President Moon Jae-in touted public diplomacy in his five-year policy roadmap unveiled last week. Calling himself a "first citizen envoy," Lee, a Taekwondo master, aims at bridging parties, civic groups and labor unions in South Korea between those in foreign countries through his two-year journey.
