Kim Min-seok: "Promoting Local Energy Self-Sufficiency System"

Party leader Kim Min-seok pointed out the contradiction where power transmission networks from local areas to the metropolitan area cause conflict and power production sites become depopulated areas, stating that regional unfairness must disappear. He emphasized the need for a transition to a 'local energy self-sufficiency system' where energy is consumed where it is produced, and a new pricing system.

He announced that the 'Mega Special Zone Special Act' would be passed as a top legislative priority in this regular session of the National Assembly to establish such an energy system and achieve balanced regional development.

Party leader Kim Min-seok explained the background behind the discussion of emergency adjustment rights during the Samsung Electronics strike, arguing that public discourse is needed on the massive excess profits to be generated by the AI semiconductor revolution. He mentioned that these excess profits are predicted to continue for several years.

He revealed that he had proposed exploring the use of excess profits from the AI revolution as basic income at the Davos Forum in China last June. Representative Kim explained that the future response fund to be discussed in this regular session of the National Assembly addresses how these additional AI semiconductor tax revenues will be used in various areas such as growth, youth, regional development, and talent cultivation.

Party leader Kim Min-seok declared that the Democratic Party would begin its own innovation, stating that the party was quickly reorganized after the national convention, and special organizations and Democratic Party TV were launched. He emphasized that the Democratic Party's innovation train has already departed, and it will prioritize people's livelihoods and promote growth in all regions.

He also stated that regarding youth issues, he would push for joint participation of youth committee chairpersons from both ruling and opposition parties in government meetings, strengthen solidarity with progressive reform parties, and formally discuss adjusting the number of negotiating groups. He added that a transparent innovative nomination system would be revamped, and the system for National Assembly members and regional committee chairpersons to care for people's livelihoods would be strengthened.

Party leader Kim Min-seok announced that he would establish creative, horizontal party-government relations. He explained that the Democratic Party, through the experience of past administrations, has established principles for presidential participation in party affairs and party recommendations for appointments.

He defined presidential party loyalty and party-government alignment as safeguards for responsible politics and political stability, declaring that the party would be a responsible ruling party that directly speaks the public's mind while firmly supporting the government.

Party leader Kim Min-seok announced that police reform would be pursued following prosecution reform. He emphasized the need to eradicate internal cover-ups, case concealment, unauthorized closures, evidence concealment and manipulation, leakage of investigation information, and personal information infringement by the police.

To achieve this, he stated that multifaceted reforms would be pursued, including expanding external audits, strengthening grounds for recusals in investigations, reinforcing accountability for explaining to victims, increasing legal responsibility for shoddy investigations, and enhancing protection of citizens' personal information and privacy. He added that investigation capabilities for violent crimes and cases involving vulnerable social groups would be strengthened to ensure public safety.

He argued that the entire national industrial ecosystem should be strengthened through support for emerging industries and the co-growth of existing mature industries (e.g., home appliances). He also stated that the relationship between the government and businesses would be developed into a political-business cooperation model that combines democratic mutual checks and creative full-scale collaboration, proclaiming that a government based on popular sovereignty, which owes nothing to businesses from yesterday and will owe nothing tomorrow, will bring about a major transformation in South Korea's political-business relations.

Party leader Kim Min-seok raised the need to establish housing policy governance involving broad participation from the central government, local governments, stakeholders, and experts, similar to the National Education Commission or the National Architectural Policy Committee.

He argued that public discussion is needed for the gradual implementation of housing reforms that significantly increase the housing budget, which has traditionally relied on funds and development and sales revenues.

Party leader Kim Min-seok announced that the 3rd new towns would be developed at an unprecedented pace to be tangible to the public by 2030.

Furthermore, he stated that he would actively meet and consult with opposition parties and the Seoul Metropolitan Government to expand supply and facilitate public discussion on housing policies, and proposed the resumption of the inter-party livelihood economy consultative body.

Party leader Kim Min-seok stated that the party and government would make special and concentrated efforts to strengthen cyber security capabilities, including drone operational tactics, in response to new forms of warfare.

He pledged to actively respond to changes in US-DPRK relations based on firm security and support the government in fulfilling its role as a pacemaker to facilitate US-DPRK dialogue.

He particularly emphasized that the inclusion of the spirit of the May 18th Democratic Uprising and the Bu-Ma Democratic Protests in the preamble of the Constitution would be the starting point for constitutional amendment, adding that discussions on power structure reform could proceed to the level desired by the public.

Party leader Kim Min-seok proposed creating one area of inter-party cooperation and expanding to two. He particularly emphasized that there is little reason to sharply divide youth policy and housing policy along party lines.

He suggested revitalizing the inter-party livelihood economy council and expanding areas of joint discussion, stating that mutual cooperation is necessary to enhance the efficiency of state administration.

Party leader Kim Min-seok suggested, instead of grand political reform, simply mixing seats in the plenary session hall. He proposed alphabetical seating instead of by party, saying it would be worthwhile to have one area in the plenary session hall where members from different parties could sit together, chime in, even poke fun at their own party members, and become serious together.

He also proposed that the National Assembly should be at the center of state affairs through the custom of all ruling and opposition lawmakers standing when the President enters, adding that expressing respect centered on the President would elevate the status of the National Assembly.

Representative Kim proposed transforming a society of disparities into a society of dignity, seeking coexistence beyond hatred and discrimination, and opening an era of cooperation beyond confrontation and conflict. He asserted that through these efforts, South Korea could stand tall as a central nation in the world.