Kim Min-seok: “The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has around 200 teenage members; the party will broaden its engagement with young people”

[Financial News] Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), said on the 8th that the DPK has around 200 teenage members and that the party would step up its efforts to broaden engagement with young people.
Kim appeared by phone that day on “Minti07,” on the party’s YouTube channel DPK TV, and said, “I checked how many teenage members the DPK currently has, and it turned out to be a little over 200. I’m thinking of getting everyone together for a separate meeting and a roundtable.”
He added, “We’ll also launch an academy or a mentor group, and create a place—whether it’s a party headquarters, a center or a hub, I’m not sure—where young people will effectively take the lead.”
He stressed, “If asked what the DPK would most like to be remembered for focusing on since Kim Min-seok became leader, I hope it will become a party that is rebuilding its ties with young people now, so that it can remain a central pillar of the Republic of Korea’s democratic society even 10 or 20 years from now.”
Kim also mentioned exit poll results among young voters in Busan in the last local elections. “I heard that support among young people was high when Jeon Jae-soo was elected mayor of Busan,” he said. “It confirmed that if we do well and can offer hope, we can earn more support from young people, too.” He added, “To offer hope to young people across the country, we’ll do our best on everything from policies on jobs and housing to culture.”
Regarding relations between the ruling and opposition parties, Kim pointed to a combination of firm and conciliatory responses as a reason filibusters have declined recently in the National Assembly. “I’ve made some effort to keep relations with the opposition leader from becoming strained,” he said, adding, “I’ve also taken the position that if they want to filibuster, they should just do what they want, and if they want to go on for a long time, they may as well be allowed to.”
He continued, “I think this kind of two-pronged approach, both firm and conciliatory, may be having some effect. If the other side continues a filibuster without the opposing side cutting it short, that’s no easy task, and it’s painful.”
He added, “The plenary session is not usually held during parliamentary audits, but if essential bills affecting people’s livelihoods pile up, they should be handled promptly as they arise.”
Kim also called for restraint in comments by ruling party lawmakers and public officials concerning the president’s appointment powers. “It’s right for everyone to express their views in a way that reflects their circumstances, position and role,” he said. “I told ruling party lawmakers that restraint is needed and that the party would step in where necessary. I think similar concerns have recently been raised about public officials as well.”

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