The Democratic Party on the 22nd announced an overall platform for the June 3 local elections built around five visions and 15 policy tasks, as it seeks victory in the vote.
At a platform briefing held at the National Assembly, the party said it would pursue what it called a major shift aimed at “normalizing the nation,” including new-industry growth and region-led development tied to the Lee Jae-myung government’s “5 poles, 3 special zones” approach.
The party listed its five visions as: region-led growth and balanced national development; growth in new industries such as artificial intelligence and an economic leap; guaranteeing opportunity and “national success”; stabilizing livelihoods and a fair society; and “normalizing the nation” and restoring popular sovereignty.
Han Jeong-ae, the party’s policy chief, said the local elections share a common goal of supporting the Lee Jae-myung government and achieving “balanced growth for the people.” She added that detailed pledges would be presented later.
Yoo Dong-soo, the party’s vice chair for economic affairs, said the party would designate “mega special zones” linked to the government’s “5 poles, 3 special zones” policy to create regional growth hubs. He said the party would provide policy support including fiscal incentives and stronger local autonomy.
Yoo also outlined a “Our Child Self-Reliance Fund,” under which the government would enroll children in a fund from birth and make regular deposits. He said withdrawals would be allowed after the child becomes an adult, with use limited to purposes such as education and starting a business.
Park Sang-hyeok, the party’s vice chair for social affairs, said the party would introduce “climate insurance” to reduce economic losses caused by the climate crisis through an insurance system backed by the central or local governments. He also said the party would promote a “sunlight income village” policy, forming cooperatives on public land to install solar power plants and use the proceeds, and pursue supportive housing policies to help older adults and people with disabilities with daily living as society enters a super-aged era.
Han noted that the terms of local government heads elected in this vote would be similar to President Lee’s, and urged Democratic Party candidates to take an active approach.
“The Democratic Party and President Lee have a clear goal of carrying out balanced regional development and drawing out real growth engines,” Han said. “I hope those who will work with us are elected. Those who win in this local election should move forward proactively.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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