Song Younggil Announces Candidacy for Party Leader: "Now Is the Time to Show Responsibility and Competence Befitting the Ruling Party"

"Local Election Was a Defeat Disguised as Victory"
Pledge to Supply 50,000 Units Through Yongsan U.S. Military Base Development
Both Nominated Supreme Council Members to Be from the 2030 Generation

On July 8, former Democratic Party of Korea leader Song Young-gil officially declared his candidacy for party leader, stating, "Now is the time to demonstrate the responsibility and competence befitting the ruling party."

At a press conference held at the party headquarters that day, former leader Song said, "For the success of the Lee Jaemyung administration, I will forge a truly united ruling party that moves as one." Regarding the June 3 local elections, he assessed, "It was a defeat disguised as a victory," adding, "Despite an approval rating approaching 70% and the achievements made through President Lee Jaemyung's sweat and tears, the party failed to secure a landslide victory." Song stressed, "The people gave the Democratic Party a yellow card in the local elections," and warned, "If we lose the general election, there will be no re-creation of government. Without regaining power, the success of the Lee Jaemyung administration cannot be guaranteed."

Song Younggil, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is declaring his candidacy for party leader at the Democratic Party Central Party Office in Yeouido, Seoul on July 8, 2026. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

Addressing the three major mega projects, former leader Song stated, "The ruling party must become the driving engine of this race for speed," pledging, "We will remove all obstacles in the National Assembly through legislation, budgeting, and regulatory reform."

As campaign promises, he pledged to supply 50,000 housing units through the development of the Yongsan U.S. military base return site, to implement the "Anyone's Home Project," which would provide public rental housing on public land that can be purchased at the sale price, to support 100,000 young people seeking opportunities abroad, to increase dormitory capacity through modular dormitories, and to enact legislation preventing stock market suppression. In addition, he promised to create an "AI Party Member Plaza" to gather party members' opinions, and to appoint two young people from the 2030 generation as nominated supreme council members.

On this day, former leader Song also reflected on his past political journey, including his efforts to resolve conflicts with the Buddhist community during the 2022 presidential election, the passing of his father, an assault by a stranger, ankle ligament surgery, his candidacy for Seoul mayor in the local elections four years ago, his withdrawal from the party over the cash envelope scandal, and his readmission after the dissolution of "Sonamu Party."

Meanwhile, at the press conference, National Assembly members Kim Youngho, Park Sunwon, and Min Byungdeok, Heo Jongsik, Min Hongcheol, Jeong Ilyoung, as well as Kim Yong, former head of the Democratic Research Institute, and other supreme council member candidates were present.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.