Lee Jae-myung, a candidate for the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential primary, said during the MBC presidential primary TV debate on the 18th regarding the identity of the Democratic Party, “Originally, it was closer to moderate progressivism, but now it is difficult to call it progressive since the Democratic Party must also take responsibility for parts of the conservative camp.” Kim Kyeong-soo also noted that he agrees. In contrast, Kim Dong-yeon stated that 'pragmatism' is merely a methodology and insisted, “We must uphold progressive values.”
The candidate expressed his desire to discuss the essentials during the debate on leadership in the fields of economy, diplomacy, and security, stating, “There is a misunderstanding that conservatism is about the economy and progressivism is about welfare, but I believe that is not the case.” He added, “Growth and distribution are two sides of the same coin, and there has been a misunderstanding that the Democratic Party has been solely focused on welfare and distribution, which have been too neglected until now.”
Kim Kyeong-soo also agreed with Lee's remarks, saying, “Since the conservative party has abandoned its role and gone far-right, the Democratic Party should become a moderate party rooted in progressive values and encompass moderate conservatism.” However, he emphasized, “Finding solutions to issues in the South Korean economy and society is more important than the debate between progressivism and conservatism.” In response, Lee stated, “I completely empathize,” adding, “Whether one is conservative or progressive is relative and can change depending on the circumstances.”
Kim Dong-yeon stated, “The current identity of the Democratic Party is rooted in values such as fairness, equality, and creating a world where people live well.” He noted, “The values mentioned by Lee Jae-myung can be sufficiently considered as methods to address market failures, but the fundamental values of progressivism remain unchanged.”
In response, Lee remarked, “Creating and implementing the most necessary and useful systems in reality is politics,” adding, “The Democratic Party can be both progressive and conservative, but currently, it must focus on what is called the values of conservatism, which are growth and development.”
The debate over the identity of the primary candidates is closely linked to the declaration of a 'conservative party' made by the candidate during his time as party leader. Earlier in February, he stated, “The Democratic Party is a centrist conservative party that values growth.” Under the 'Lee Jae-myung leadership system,' the Democratic Party has been pursuing various tax cuts, including the abolition of the financial investment income tax, postponement of virtual asset taxation, easing of inheritance taxes, and restructuring of earned income tax.