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| Ruling Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Song Young-gil speaks during a press conference at the party's headquarters on Yeouido, Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps |
By Nam Hyun-woo
Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Song Young-gil announced Tuesday that he won't seek reelection in the next National Assembly elections, vowing his party will also not field candidates for the by-elections taking place on the same day of the March 9 presidential election.
The move is being seen as the party's desperate effort to help its presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung bounce back amid his stagnant support rate in public opinion surveys. The DPK has been facing mounting calls for the so-called "Generation 586" ― a term referring to politicians who are in their 50s, experienced the democratic movements of the 1980s and were born in the 1960s ― to let go ove their privileges as the party mainstream.
"During the past nine months (after I became the chief of the DPK), the party has been making efforts for change and rejuvenation, while accepting the public's criticisms of incompetence and arrogance," Song said during a press conference. "However, the DPK's efforts for self-reflection and reform fell short of relieving the public's disappointment."
In his announcement, Song made promises that he will not run for the next general election, slated for April 10, 2024, and the DPK will not field candidates for the March 9 by-elections in Jongno District in Seoul, Anseong in Gyeonggi Province and Sangdang District in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. He also pledged that the party will propose a new rule banning a lawmaker from serving more than three terms for the same constituency.
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| Ruling Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung raises his fists during a public speech in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. Yonhap |
The promises appeared to be aimed at preventing the party's mainstream Generation 586 politicians from dominating party affairs. Song himself is part of the Generation 586.
"There have been criticisms that Generation 586 has become a privileged group in the party, and it is time for us to go out into the wilderness again, by letting go of our privileges and constituencies to usher in younger voices into politics," Song said. He added that the party's mission is to ensure that Lee wins the presidential election, and for this, he will give up his privileges first to serve as "the launching pad" for the Lee government.
Song's announcement came amid Lee's stagnant support rate, which remains below 40 percent despite factional infighting within the main opposition People Power Party (PPP).
According to a Realmeter poll released on Monday, PPP presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol secured a 42 percent support rate, outpacing Lee's with 36.8 percent. The gap between the two widened to 5.2 percentage points, up from 3.9 percentage points a week earlier. The survey was conducted on 3,046 adults from Jan. 16 to 22 on the request of OhMyNews and further details are available on the website of the agency or the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.
Against this backdrop, DPK Rep. Kim Jong-min claimed the 586 generation's exit from the mainstream as a solution to refresh the party's campaign.
"The generation has been engaging in politics for the past 30 years, but the wage gap between large and small companies has widened and the country's birthrate is one of the lowest in the world," Kim, who is also considered part of the generation, wrote on Facebook Sunday. "This means we have not been serving democracy properly for the past three decades."
A day after Kim's call, seven key aides to Lee, including Rep. Jung Sung-ho, promised that they will not take nominative posts in the Lee government, saying "the new administration should only consider the capabilities needed when naming people to key government posts."
"The current administration failed to root out the practice of rewarding those who played roles in past presidential elections with good government jobs," their joint statement read. "We, the so-called group of seven, will give up our privileges and will not take any nominative jobs in the Lee administration."
After Song's announcement, DPK candidate Lee said in a public speech in Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi Province, "We are cutting out our own flesh to change, and I will do my best if the public gives us one more chance."
However, it remains uncertain whether Song's effort will result in desirable outcomes for his party, because the proposal to ban a fourth term in the same constituency will affect party members' political careers, and also requires agreement from the PPP.
"Generation 586 within the DPK are the model case of stagnant water in Korean politics," PPP senior spokeswoman Her Euna said. "Regardless of how many 586 politicians were to step down, if Lee is elected, the DPK's Generation 586 will take the administration. In order for the DPK to embrace new generations, the withdrawal of Lee's candidacy is necessary."
