Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok mentioned "zeroing shift (零點移動)" five times and said perspectives and perceptions must change. Kim also emphasized bipartisan cooperation and said he would talk not only about solidarity with progressives but also with centrist and conservative forces.
On the morning of the 7th, in his first policy speech as a negotiation bloc leader since taking office, Kim said, "If the target changes, the zeroing must also change," stressing, "We need a comprehensive zeroing shift." He added, "A zeroing shift means having a 'great power mindset,'" and said, "We must abandon the weak-state mindset that was left only with the experience of Japanese colonial rule."
The zeroing shift Kim outlined is intended to change existing ways of thinking and the perspective of state management to match rapidly changing conditions such as the AI revolution, low birthrate and aging, U.S.-China competition, and inter-Korean relations.
To that end, he stressed that bipartisan cooperation is needed in politics. Kim proposed "joint attendance by the youth committee chairs of both parties at a government meeting to strengthen youth policy" and said, "We will strengthen solidarity with progressive reform parties and also start full-fledged discussions on adjusting the size of negotiation blocs."
Kim also proposed that lawmakers from both parties mix seating from the main chamber. He said, "Rather than grand political reform, let's start modestly by mixing seats in the plenary hall," adding, "How about sitting in alphabetical order rather than by party?"
He continued, "Each party can hold its caucus outside, and facing off can be done enough in the standing committees," adding, "Wouldn't it be worth trying to have at least one section in the plenary hall where members of this party and that party sit mixed together, occasionally echo each other, even poke fun at their own party's members, and also get serious together?"
On real estate policy, he said, "We will actively consult with the opposition party and the Seoul Metropolitan Government," adding, "We will also form a bipartisan consultative body on housing policy," and said, "In addition to high-density, mixed-use development of station areas and quasi-industrial zones, we also need to discuss mixed-use development that utilizes facilities such as water reclamation centers proposed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government." He went on to note the need to ease regulations, saying, "The height restrictions near the National Assembly and the Supreme Court are also products of the authoritarian era."
On the Future Response Fund, Kim said, "I 100% agree with transparent and responsible fiscal principles," adding, "If it is spent like the government's slush fund, I will be the first to oppose it." He proposed, "If the parties discuss it and the public agrees, let's appropriately adjust the usage goals of the Future Response Fund."