Democratic Party Expands Outreach … Kim Min-seok, "Massive Recruitment of Fresh and Capable Figures"
Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Kim Min-seok is moving forward with recruiting talent spanning reform, centrist, and conservative camps and restructuring party organization.
According to political circles on the 26th, Chairman Kim stated at the first meeting of the Great Unity Promotion Task Force held at the National Assembly the previous day, "We must simultaneously promote recruitment of individuals from progressive, reform, and centrist-conservative camps while clarifying internal party cohesion, which will strengthen our party."
He continued, "We will massively recruit fresh and capable figures from across the entire spectrum ranging from reform to centrist-conservative camps."
The Great Unity Promotion Task Force is headed by Rep. Park Beom-gye and consists of the Progressive Coalition Division, Cho Kuk Innovation Party Coalition Division, and Recruitment Expansion Division. The structure simultaneously pursues coalition with progressive circles and recruitment of centrist-conservative talent.
Chairman Kim decided to establish an informal communication channel called the "5-Layer Progressive Corner Meeting" with Social Democratic Party Chairman Han Chang-min, Cho Kuk Innovation Party Chairman Shin Jang-sik, Basic Income Party Floor Leader Yong Hye-in, and Progressive Party Floor Leader Yoon Jong-o.
Regarding the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, options for both merger and coalition remain open. Chairman Kim stated, "It is unclear whether the conclusion will be a merger or coalition rather than a merger."
The party also launched 10 innovation special committees called "MegaTen" for internal restructuring.
The Candidate Nomination Innovation Promotion Task Force, headed by Rep. Shin Jeong-hoon, will develop candidate nomination reform plans reflecting issues raised during the June 3 local elections and supplementary by-elections. Chairman Kim stated he will review conducting party-wide discussions during the reform plan development process and, if necessary, implementing a party-wide vote.
The Party Reform Promotion Task Force is led by former South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Gyeong-soo. It operates three divisions: deliberative democracy, AI democracy, and discussion culture. Rep. Kim Tae-nyeon heads the Constitutional Amendment Promotion Task Force.
In the youth sector, the "10-30s Youth Policy Task Force" with Reps. Kim Han-gyu and Jeon Eun-soo as co-chairs operates separately from the existing Youth and College Student Committee. A National Youth Culture Festival Promotion Task Force led by actor Lee Won-jong has also been established.
Chairman Kim directly oversees the growth sector. He concurrently serves as chair of the Mega Growth Special Committee, with Rep. Lee Gwang-jae as chief vice chair, former Governor Kim Gyeong-soo as standing vice chair, and Rep. Lee Eon-ju as vice chair. Regional divisions have also been established covering Seoul, northern Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Incheon, Chungcheong, Daegu-North Gyeongsang, Busan-Ulsan-South Gyeongsang, North Jeolla, and Gwangju-South Jeolla.
In the livelihoods sector, Rep. Park Ji-won leads the "Friday Night Politics Alley Livelihood Task Force," while Rep. Park Jeong heads the US-China-Japan Party Diplomacy Promotion Task Force for party diplomacy. Chairman Kim also announced plans to visit the United States by October to engage in party diplomacy.
A political circles official stated, "That Chairman Kim pursued progressive coalition, centrist-conservative talent recruitment, and reforms on candidate nomination and party structure simultaneously after taking office represents a plan to simultaneously expand both the party's support base and organization," and added, "The key will be how to actually unite forces and figures with different political orientations within a single party."