The Democratic Party of Korea is set to hold a national convention on Aug. 17 to elect new leadership. A key agenda item in this convention is whether the party can win back support from voters in their 20s and 30s. According to the joint exit poll by the three terrestrial broadcasters in the June 3 local elections, only 35.9% of voters in their 20s living in Seoul voted for the Democratic Party. The figure for voters in their 30s was just 36.7%. The party is also locked in debate over whether to introduce a youth supreme council member system at this convention. ChosunBiz plans to meet the party's young politicians to hear their visions and plans on how to win the hearts of the "2030 generation." [Editor's note]
Former Military Human Rights Center Secretary-General Kim Hyeong-nam took part in the Democratic Party's preliminary primary for Seoul mayor in the last local elections. Standing among incumbent lawmakers and district mayors, Kim made an impression as fresh blood and has since established a place as a young politician representing the Democratic Party.
Kim, whom we met at the National Assembly on the 15th, assessed that the Democratic Party is failing to give young party members a sense of usefulness. Kim said, "Party members do not join to be a rubber stamp. When they sign up, they check their interests, and I'm told they do so with great care," adding, "But if a day passes, a month passes, and a year passes with no contact from the party, people start saying, 'The president is doing well, but I don't know what the party is doing.'"
Kim said, "The Democratic Party's value is to pursue growth and a safety net together, but over the past year our party leadership has gone with a 'prosecution reform' one-tool approach, which makes the public think, 'Maybe they're not interested in me.'"
The following is a Q&A with the former secretary-general Kim.
- What led you to enter politics.
"Under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration there was the death of Sergeant Chae. I thought such incidents must not be repeated, and I wrestled with the idea that it was time to move beyond the realm of civic activism and, in the realm of politics, present visions and agendas to drive change."
- The "Pick up a vote" content, where you go anywhere in the country when called by party members, is fun.
"Most of the party members who reach out to me are young. What I've commonly heard over the past year is that while expectations for the president's governance are quite high, they don't really know what the party is doing. I'm not sure the party recognizes this mood."
- What changes are needed.
"The Democratic Party's core value is to pursue growth and the safety net together. President Lee Jae-myung also talks about a future response fund while saying we should lay down the safety net more like a seat belt. The party must handle the details here. It should detect where the social safety net is not functioning properly and update the system. That requires listening to citizens and to party members, but if we go only with the one-tool issue of prosecution reform, people think, 'Maybe they're not interested in me.'"
- For example, how would you update the social safety net.
"Unemployment benefits are one of the policies that need updating. I believe the reason for the current criticism is that the system is moving toward a structure where it can no longer function properly. There are far more people who are not eligible at all than those who can receive unemployment benefits. Nevertheless, it is emphasized as if it were a core social safety net, and that is the problem."
- What should the Democratic Party do for people in their 20s and 30s.
"People in their 20s and 30s are not a single, uniform voting bloc but are divided into various strata. Circumstances differ—people with homes and without, high earners and those who are not, and so on. After the convention, rather than holding a simple '2030 forum,' I think we should organize roundtables by segmented groups—such as high earners without homes, those about to enter the workforce, and women working in logistics and delivery—listen directly to their specific problems, and craft solutions."
- Where should the Democratic Party go from here.
"There are more people who do not go to the polls than those who are progressive or conservative. As the Democratic Party holds power and bears responsibility for governing, it bears responsibility when social problems remain unresolved. The perception that the reform tasks we have traditionally pursued (prosecution reform, media reform) alone can solve everything and naturally win public support is out of touch with reality. We must face the fact that, in the meantime, voices of anxiety and discontent have grown across society. The Democratic Party must once again lead on social issues and demonstrate competence by offering solutions."