The think tank 'Growth and Integration' of Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung has confirmed its official meeting with the candidate's camp policy headquarters. The two sides also decided to establish a working-level consultative body to solidify their commitments. Amidst the proliferation of organizations inside and outside the party, this has garnered attention as the policy headquarters, which reports directly to the candidate, and the expert organization have established a practical line.
On the 20th, ChosunBiz reported that Lee Jae-myung camp's policy head Yoon Hoo-deok and Yu Jong-il, co-chairperson of Growth and Integration, held a closed-door meeting at the National Assembly the previous day. This was the first official meeting held after the candidate's primary camp and the think tank were established. The chairpersons of the 34 subcommittees under Growth and Integration also attended.
During this meeting, discussions were held regarding the 'top 100 policy list' compiled by Growth and Integration. Growth and Integration presented about 10 core commitments from each of the 34 subcommittees and then narrowed it down to a third. The plans also included a state-led fund to support national strategic industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) and a proposal for an 'energy mix' to jointly foster nuclear power and renewable energy. The head of the policy headquarters noted that he would report directly to the candidate once the policy list is received.
An official from Growth and Integration stated, "We have established an official channel for immediate communication between practitioners to discuss closely with the policy headquarters and the think tank," and added, "After thoroughly reviewing the presidential commitments here, there will be a procedure to report directly to the candidate."
This official particularly noted, "We are seriously addressing the energy mix, which is the basic infrastructure for AI technology," and stated, "To achieve AI transformation across various industrial sectors, it is Lee Jae-myung's view that nuclear power cannot be treated 'ideologically' as it was by previous governments."
Yoon, known as the party's 'policy expert,' is currently overseeing the presidential commitments in Lee Jae-myung's camp. He had attended the launch ceremony of Growth and Integration on the 16th. Since Growth and Integration has officially commenced as the candidate's think tank, it plans to create a policy book for the main election centered around the policies selected by the working-level consultative body.
Growth and Integration will hold a policy forum on the theme of 'AI government' on the 28th. Chairperson of the AI subcommittee Jang Byeong-tak, head of the AI research institute at Seoul National University, and Professor Kim Joon-ha of Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) are preparing the commitments. At this forum, a roadmap for the 'catalyst fund' to support the AI industry will also be unveiled. Kim Kwang-soo, chairperson of the financial subcommittee and former president of the National Association of Banks, former head of the Office for Government Policy Coordination Koo Yun-cheol, and Professor Kang Byeong-gu from Inha University, are also leading the commitment work.