Representative Hong Ik-pyo of the Democratic Party of Korea said today (21st), "The time for the MDP's innovation will come from mid-to-late December at the earliest, or early January next year at the latest."

At the Editors' Forum hosted by the Korea Newspaper and Broadcasting Editors Association held at the Jung-gu Press Center on the same day, Representative Hong said, "The first task is to deal with the people's livelihood bills, including the budget bill, until the end of the regular National Assembly session."

"I don't think it's time for our party to innovate," he said. The nomination will be completed in February next year at the earliest, and it is time for personnel reform to be completed before then," he said, adding, "I don't think the time for political reform is that late. That's usually the time to appeal to the public."

"The opposition's innovation is unity," Hong said, adding, "We need to gather even a small amount of strength to win the general election against the big power of the government and the ruling party."

He said, "We will work together with everyone and decide who we will put at the forefront of the election based on strategy and structure, and those who will have to dedicate or sacrifice in the process will come out."

He also said, "Bringing in good people from the outside with a more open attitude will be the primary role of the party leader, but I will also do my part," adding, "I don't want to be dominated by a particular person."

Regarding Representative Lee Jae-myung's role in the general election, Representative Hong said, "I think there are many variables depending on how the election unfolds," adding, "I think there can be various judgments of Chairman Lee under the basic principle of going to this representative system. It's up to this representative to decide."

Regarding Chairman Lee's candidacy theory, which was raised mainly by the party's screaming (non-Lee Jae-myung) circles, he replied, "I have gone too far," adding, "It is something that we will think about after the strategy and structure of the big framework are decided."

Regarding the People's Power Party's "Inyohan Innovation Plan," he said, "It's in the wrong direction, and it's not directed toward President Yoon Suk-yeol and the presidential office, but in the opposite direction, and I don't know how much it will be accepted by the People Power Party," adding, "Chairman Lee Cheol-kyu was in charge of recruiting talent, but doesn't that show the paradox of Chairman Kim Ki-hyun? In the past, all the responsibilities of the talent committee were carried out by the party chairman."

He said, "I don't think one trick will change the level of support or the tide," and "it's time to be patient rather than impatient."

Regarding his goal for next year's general elections, Hong said, "I hope to win even one seat over the power of the people," adding, "I want to do my best to secure a number of seats that have the power to check the power of the people."

Regarding the government's 'megacity' plan, he said, "The method of expanding the area is a discourse in the past era of the development economy," adding, "The key is to increase density and how to integrate social services, but the government's incorporation of Gimpo and neighboring cities is the exact opposite of the global idea."

(Photo = Yonhap News)