Rep. Song Young-gil of the Democratic Party of Korea declared his candidacy for the party leadership convention on Monday, running under the slogan of "Lee's heart, Song's heart" — a phrase meaning that the intentions of President Lee Jae-myung and former party leader Song are aligned.
At a press conference at the party's headquarters in Yeouido that day, Song said, "This party convention is not an election to pick who is the more outspoken person." He added, "This convention is an election to choose which leader will cooperate with the Lee Jae-myung administration to build an irreplaceable Republic of Korea."
He went on to say, "Without the support of the 2030 generation, there will be no 2030 presidential election." Song said, "If I become party leader, I will appoint two people in their 20s and 30s as designated supreme council members. I will create a 2030 special committee and platform so that people in their 20s and 30s can directly participate in and make major party decisions themselves."
He also pledged, "I will build a 'digital direct democracy governance reflection system' in which party members' opinions are reflected in state affairs in real time." He promised, "I will complete all of this with AI. If I become party leader, the first thing I will create is an 'AI Party Members' Square.'"
As a real estate pledge, Song said, "I will develop hundreds of thousands of pyeong of the returned U.S. military site in Yongsan as a whole." He said, "I will supply 50,000 units of 24-pyeong and 32-pyeong apartments for young people, newlyweds, and those without homes at reasonable prices as sale housing." He added that through the "Anyone's Home Project," people would be able to buy homes at the original sale price at any time, and if home prices rise, the increase would be shared with tenants.
He also said he would pass a "stock price suppression prevention law" to push for separate taxation of dividend income, and create a "Super ISA" as seed money for young people.
Regarding the party's convention preparation committee deciding to select the party leader through preferential voting, Song said, "I respect it." He answered, "It is one form of runoff voting, and it has aspects that can reduce costs, and the psychology of avoiding wasted votes will disappear. When everything is totaled, ultimately a candidate winning a majority of votes will be elected, so an atmosphere has been created in which people can vote for Song Young-gil without burden. I think it has become a winning card."
Song said, "This morning in my office, I interviewed five lawmakers who support me. In Gwangju, Yang Bu-nam joins, and in Jeonnam, Rep. Lee Gae-ho joins. In Gyeongnam, former Minister Kim Doo-kwan has decided to join."
Rep. Min Byoung-dug will oversee campaign strategy, Rep. Heo Jong-sik will serve as secretary, and former Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kang Min-seok will serve as spokesperson. Attorney Lee Seung-hoon, who had his candidacy for Gangbuk district mayor in Seoul revoked over allegations including a history of defending child sex offenders, also attended the press conference.
