DPK seems to have lost momentum for change
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is struggling to shake off its “old image” of the political establishment bent on protecting its own vested interests and sticking to rigid leftist ideologies. Yet it is finding it difficult to transform itself into a new party that can bring hope to the people and the country.
The DPK has begun to feel a sense of crisis since it suffered a humiliating defeat in the April 7 mayoral by-elections in the country’s two largest cities ― Seoul and Busan. The June 11 election of Lee Jun-seok, a 36-year-old politician with no experience as a lawmaker, as chairman of the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has also put more pressure on the ruling party to embrace the winds of change.
On Wednesday, DPK Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil promised to bring drastic changes to the party. He said in a speech to a plenary session of the National Assembly that he would push for party reform to regain the public’s trust. He also apologized for his party’s failure to listen carefully to the people’s voices.
Song announced a set of measures to innovate his party and the Moon Jae-in administration. One of them was the proposed appointment of a new special minister for youth issues who will deal with housing, education and employment for young people. He said he would request President Moon to create a ministry in charge of setting policies to better cater to young people.
His proposal is apparently in reaction to Lee’s meteoric rise to the leadership of the PPP. Lee has become the youngest-ever politician to lead a major political party in Korea’s modern history. His election represented the growing calls for political change and innovation among the people, especially those in their 20s and 30s. It has also signaled a generational change in the country’s politics which have long been based on hierarchy and seniority.
The PPP had been reeling from the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, who once led one of the party’s predecessors. But now, it is seizing the opportunity to be reborn under the leadership of a young leader. According to a survey conducted by Realmeter last week, the PPP’s support rate climbed to 39.1 percent, compared with the DPK’s 29.2 percent. The poll showed a growing number of people, particularly centrist voters, shifting their support to the conservative PPP in the wake of Lee’s election.
However, the DPK seems to have lost its momentum to turn the tables and change the political landscape to its advantage. In fact, the governing party has been continuing to suffer from the corruption and admissions fraud scandal involving former Justice Minister Cho Kuk and his family. The scandal has actually undermined the values of fairness and justice. President Moon’s much-touted pledge to create a fair and just society has only proven to be lip service. A set of policy failures to bring housing speculation under control have also made matters worse.
The DPK and the Moon administration should put action before words if they really want to win back the hearts and minds of the people. They also must shed arrogance, self-righteousness and hypocrisy. Otherwise, they cannot survive in the face of the sweeping winds of change.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is struggling to shake off its “old image” of the political establishment bent on protecting its own vested interests and sticking to rigid leftist ideologies. Yet it is finding it difficult to transform itself into a new party that can bring hope to the people and the country.
The DPK has begun to feel a sense of crisis since it suffered a humiliating defeat in the April 7 mayoral by-elections in the country’s two largest cities ― Seoul and Busan. The June 11 election of Lee Jun-seok, a 36-year-old politician with no experience as a lawmaker, as chairman of the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has also put more pressure on the ruling party to embrace the winds of change.
On Wednesday, DPK Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil promised to bring drastic changes to the party. He said in a speech to a plenary session of the National Assembly that he would push for party reform to regain the public’s trust. He also apologized for his party’s failure to listen carefully to the people’s voices.
Song announced a set of measures to innovate his party and the Moon Jae-in administration. One of them was the proposed appointment of a new special minister for youth issues who will deal with housing, education and employment for young people. He said he would request President Moon to create a ministry in charge of setting policies to better cater to young people.
His proposal is apparently in reaction to Lee’s meteoric rise to the leadership of the PPP. Lee has become the youngest-ever politician to lead a major political party in Korea’s modern history. His election represented the growing calls for political change and innovation among the people, especially those in their 20s and 30s. It has also signaled a generational change in the country’s politics which have long been based on hierarchy and seniority.
The PPP had been reeling from the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, who once led one of the party’s predecessors. But now, it is seizing the opportunity to be reborn under the leadership of a young leader. According to a survey conducted by Realmeter last week, the PPP’s support rate climbed to 39.1 percent, compared with the DPK’s 29.2 percent. The poll showed a growing number of people, particularly centrist voters, shifting their support to the conservative PPP in the wake of Lee’s election.
However, the DPK seems to have lost its momentum to turn the tables and change the political landscape to its advantage. In fact, the governing party has been continuing to suffer from the corruption and admissions fraud scandal involving former Justice Minister Cho Kuk and his family. The scandal has actually undermined the values of fairness and justice. President Moon’s much-touted pledge to create a fair and just society has only proven to be lip service. A set of policy failures to bring housing speculation under control have also made matters worse.
The DPK and the Moon administration should put action before words if they really want to win back the hearts and minds of the people. They also must shed arrogance, self-righteousness and hypocrisy. Otherwise, they cannot survive in the face of the sweeping winds of change.
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