[Excerpt from the 210th Supreme Council Meeting]

“Let’s make the 21st National Assembly a just, innovative, and future-oriented one.”

□ February 10, 2020 (Mon.) 

■ Lee Hae-chan, Chairman of the DPK

Three weeks have passed since the first case of the new coronavirus outbreak was confirmed in Korea. Since then we have managed the health emergency well; it is also apparent that we can conquer the disease, which was made possible by Korea’s advanced medical systems and our fellow Koreans’ mature sense of citizenship. Now it is of paramount importance to ensure that the on-going new coronavirus outbreak will not lead to economic difficulties by responding appropriately to the public health threat. The government and the ruling DPK plan to hold a related ministerial meeting twice a week to work on additional complementary measures; at the same time we will soon come up with comprehensive countermeasures to stimulate domestic consumption that will activate local economies as the monthlong coronavirus outbreak has reduced people’s economic and consumption activities. 

Yesterday the ruling DPK began to interview nomination applicants for the upcoming general elections and plans to soon launch an election campaign committee whose inauguration was delayed to make use of every possible means to fight off the outbreak. Whether the 21st National Assembly will be held back by political strife again or become a fair, innovative, and future-oriented parliamentary all depends on the outcomes of the upcoming general elections, which will be held on April 15. Keeping in mind that it is important for the ruling DPK to make its nomination process a fair and innovative one, the party nomination management committee and supreme council members are encouraged to join force together to lead the party’s innovation in a right direction.