▲ Democratic Party leadership candidate Kim Min-seok prepares for a TV debate at the SBS Mok-dong Studio in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on the 12th
Democratic Party leadership candidate Kim Min-seok fired back at rival claims, stating, "Candidate Chung Chung-rae says that the traditional support base, the so-called core supporters, has pulled away, but they cannot be considered true core supporters if they back out just because the atmosphere gets a bit tough."
Appearing on KBS Gwangju Radio today (the 13th), Candidate Kim made the remarks in response to Candidate Chung's press conference the previous day, where Chung claimed that "the hearts of the traditional support base have cooled, and Chung Chung-rae is needed to drag the president's approval ratings back up."
Candidate Kim emphasized, "Shouldn't we recover our approval ratings by about 15 to 20 percent by uniting our support base while also pulling in the middle class? Pursuing unity and expansion at the same time has been our route and proven secret since President Kim Dae-jung."
He added, "If we do that, our party's approval rating will rise by 10 to 15 percentage points within three months. Based on this, we plan to alleviate the burden on the president and the government, and restore the state administration's approval rating to the level of the past year, and I am confident it will happen."
When asked about the basis for his previous remark that "if Candidate Chung becomes party leader, the speed battle for creating a semiconductor industrial complex could become difficult," Candidate Kim replied, "We have experienced cases where state projects languished when the administration shook. It is common sense that if the party fails to run smoothly and move solidly, the Jeonnam-Gwangju megaproject will face difficulties."
He continued, "If the party-government relationship continues as it was when Candidate Chung was in charge, it would be the worst-case scenario. Unless leadership changes to one where the party and government can align, it will be difficult."
Regarding integration and solidarity with the Rebuilding Korea Party, Candidate Kim stated, "The prerequisite is that there must be absolute majority support from both parties. Going too far to the left or right is not realistic, and the Innovation Party will have no choice but to acknowledge that."
In response to a question expressing concern over whether post-convention party unity will be possible given the overheated race, Candidate Kim said, "Since the people who ran as candidates have a strong love for the party, they will not cause difficulties due to personal emotional issues."
He also added, "Because we have gone through the party convention, the party's course must follow the direction of the elected leader. If I am chosen, we will move in the direction of people's livelihoods, pragmatism, economy, and integration."
(Photo: Photo Press Corps of the National Assembly, Yonhap News)
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