Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party, has endorsed President Lee Jae-myung's concept of a "structural majority" while seeking to broaden the party's appeal. However, there are concerns within the party that this focus on centrist and conservative voters may alienate its traditional support base. Notably, the party's push for a super-wide special zone law, which includes labor exemptions, has faced backlash from labor groups, raising alarms about the party's support foundation.
On October 21, Kim appeared on the Democratic Party's YouTube channel, Mint07, stating, "A structural majority is essential for continuous governance and the re-establishment of power. Our support base is a constant, and we must consider how to expand beyond it." He emphasized that expanding the party's reach should be predicated on solidifying its existing support.
Previously, President Lee had remarked on October 19, "No matter how united we are, if the centrist and rational conservative factions consolidate against us, regaining power will be impossible. We need to create a platform that can attract both centrists and rational conservatives," reiterating the importance of the structural majority.
While there is agreement within the party on the need for expansion, concerns are growing as clashes with the traditional support base become more frequent. In the case of the impeachment of Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, the hardline supporters are demanding a more aggressive response, while the leadership has adopted a cautious stance, leading to increased internal conflict.
Kim's priority legislative agenda for the regular National Assembly includes the super-wide special zone law, which has faced strong opposition from labor groups, raising fears of losing core supporters.
The Democratic Party has proposed the super-wide special zone law to support national strategic projects, such as the semiconductor cluster in Honam, with two versions: one including labor exemptions from the 52-hour workweek and one excluding them. The opposition has criticized this as a "double-standard bill," while labor groups have demanded its withdrawal, claiming it undermines social dialogue.
A party official commented on the super-wide special zone law, saying, "The fact that we presented two proposals indicates a lack of internal consensus. I don't understand why we included exemptions like the 52-hour workweek. Are we really going to win votes by siding with businesses?" They added, "In fact, we risk losing support from labor groups and our traditional base."
Meanwhile, the Justice Innovation Party has recorded a 9% approval rating for the first time since the Lee Jae-myung administration began. According to a survey conducted by Media Tomato from October 19 to 20, which polled 1,033 adults aged 18 and older, the party's approval rating increased by 1.6 percentage points from the previous survey. The People Power Party recorded 37.2%, while the Democratic Party stood at 36.2%.
Support for the Justice Innovation Party among progressive voters rose to 17.8%, up 7.0 percentage points from two weeks ago (10.8%). This shift is believed to be influenced by the party's strong stance on judicial reform and the impeachment of Chief Justice Cho.
Party spokesperson Lim Myung-hee stated during a press conference that the rise in approval ratings for the Justice Innovation Party reflects a response to the lack of support for President Lee and the Democratic Party, calling it a "reflected benefit."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.