Amid the Democratic Party of Korea presidential primary effectively flowing into an 'Lee Jae-myung solo system,' rival candidates Kim Dong-yeon and Kim Kyeong-soo are seeking to enhance their presence through 'policy competition.'
According to political circles on the 22nd, candidate Lee recorded overwhelming approval ratings of 88% and 90% in recent primary tours of the Chungcheong and Yeongnam regions, respectively. There is an assessment that the move to the right targeting the moderate class has been effective.
In response, candidates Kim Dong-yeon and Kim Kyeong-soo are presenting key values of traditional progressivism such as human rights, distribution, and protection of the weak. They intend to emphasize relatively overlooked areas.
Candidate Kim Dong-yeon proactively proposed pledges related to women. One representative example is the introduction of 'non-consensual rape crime,' introduced through policy documentation. The essence of non-consensual rape crime defines an act of engaging in sexual intercourse without consent, differing from criteria for rape that consider the presence of violence or intimidation.
Candidate Kim Dong-yeon said at a meeting hosted by the Korean Institute for Women's Political Studies held at the National Assembly the previous day, "It is said that rapes occurring without acts of violence or intimidation account for 62.5% of the total. Whether through grooming, drugs, or alcohol, this is the reality of the situation," and stated, "We need to introduce non-consensual rape crimes based on the principle of viewing things from the victim's perspective."
Candidate Kim Kyeong-soo introduced a pledge to develop the national employment insurance that began under the Moon Jae-in administration into a national income insurance.
It is a concept to completely transition the employment insurance, which was based on 'qualifications' for jobs, into an 'income-based' income insurance system. In this case, all workers and self-employed individuals with a certain level of income would be able to receive income insurance without any gaps.
He also promised the 'National Basic Living Guarantee System' that ensures the minimum income of 40% of the median income for all citizens. He added, "I promise a zero absolute poverty era and a dignified advanced country. I will promote the national basic living guarantee system."
The backdrop to these pledges is that in the recent Democratic Party primary process, pledges related to the party's core values such as protection of the weak and distribution have faded from view. Candidate Lee, who has recorded overwhelming approval ratings in the primary tours, is minimizing controversial actions while maintaining a 'quiet primary' trend.
Candidate Lee recently referred to the identity of the Democratic Party as that of a 'centrist party.' In a debate held on MBC TV on the 19th, he stated, "I actually think the Democratic Party is a centrist party," and added, "Since the conservative camp has completely abandoned its role, I believe our Democratic Party must also take some responsibility in the conservative area."