Kim Min-seok, the former prime minister who declared a run in the Democratic Party of Korea convention in Aug., said that a merger with the Rebuilding Korea Party must meet three principles: the consent of both Democratic Party of Korea members and Rebuilding Korea Party members, and the preservation of the Democratic Party of Korea's name and identity.
On the 15th, at the party members' zone at the Democratic Party of Korea's central headquarters, the former prime minister held a presentation on four key reforms and laid out ideas on major in-party issues, including youth, unity, an AI transition, and a system-based nomination process. On unity first, he said, "I will set up a task force for grand unity directly under the party leader, and if identity, platform, and policy are the same, we will merge; if they differ, we will form an alliance."
He offered more specific views on a merger with the Rebuilding Korea Party. The former prime minister said, "With the Rebuilding Korea Party, we will pursue an alliance based on the three principles," adding, "the three principles are the approval of Democratic Party of Korea members, the approval of Rebuilding Korea Party members, and the preservation of the Democratic Party of Korea's name and identity."
He added, "If all three conditions are met, then I believe we can proceed with a merger," and said, "If they differ, we will form an alliance."
The former prime minister also proposed measures to revitalize youth politics and strengthen party members' sovereignty. He said, "I will establish a '1030 policy team' directly under the party leader and make youth party-government consultations routine to build a cross-ministerial system for promoting youth policy." He also proposed creating a youth policy committee at the Minister level, systematizing internships for young party members, and making '1030 town hall meetings' permanent.
He also plans to allocate one appointed supreme council seat to a youth representative, guarantee more than 50% budget autonomy for the youth and university student committees, and expand youth participation in establishing a youth political support fund.
In addition, he said, "I will establish a 'party member sovereignty task force' directly under the party leader and introduce a deliberative partywide voting system to expand member participation." He also proposed strengthening mandatory education on the party platform and history, revitalizing party member self-governance councils and giving preference to long-term members, and enhancing information access by live-streaming the general assembly of lawmakers and releasing minutes. He went on, "Through innovation in 'system-based nominations' and the creation of a dedicated body, we will redefine the system-based nomination process."