Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the leading presidential contender from the Democratic Party of Korea, emphasized that fostering national unity should be the nation’s top political priority, citing growing ideological divisions within the country.
“The role of a president is to bring together a nation torn by conflict,” Lee said during a televised primary debate aired on MBC’s “100-Minute Debate” on Friday. Referring to recent unrest, he added, “Had firearms been allowed, the situation could have turned deadly.”
Lee called for cross-party cooperation and inclusive governance, emphasizing the need to reconcile conflicting political views and share state authority — a principle he framed as “balanced appointments.”
Kim Dong-yeon, governor of Gyeonggi Province and another Democratic Party candidate, argued that a complete regime change in the upcoming election is necessary for genuine unity.
He proposed forming a coalition government involving diverse political groups and civil society actors, and appointing officials who reflect a broad social spectrum.
Kim Kyoung-soo, former governor of South Gyeongsang Province, said the current administration has only intensified political division and social unrest.
Stressing the need for political reform, he pointed to economic inequality as a fundamental source of conflict and called for new growth strategies to reduce disparities and eliminate extreme poverty.
flylikekite@heraldcorp.com
