Candidate Lee Jae-myung elected as the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party waves his hands at a primary in Seoul at Olympic Park Handball Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul on October 10. (Photo: National Assembly Photo Journalist Corps)

Lee Jae-myung, governor of Gyeonggi Province, won the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination through the party’s primary, with a final approval rate of 50.29 percent on Oct. 10.

“Voters have entrusted me, who has never been a member of the National Assembly, with a heavy mission as presidential candidate of the ruling party,” Lee said. “I will surely complete changes and reforms demanded by the people if I become President of Korea in 2022.”

Candidate Lee won 50.29 percent of the cumulative 1,459,992 votes. As Lee’s vote rate exceeded the majority, the Democratic Party elected Lee as its final winner. He will represent the party as presidential candidate next year.

Candidate Lee Nak-yon came in second with 39.14 percent (560,392 votes). The former chairman of the Democratic Party sought to make a turnaround, with more than 62.37 percent of the votes in the third national electoral vote, but failed to rebound. Choo Mi-ae recorded 9.01 percent (129,035 votes) and Park Yong-jin earned 1.55 percent (22,261 votes).

“I could not do this alone,” candidate Lee said after being elected as Democratic Party presidential candidate. “I sincerely thank candidate Lee Nak-yon for competing in good faith until the end, candidate Choo Mi-ae for raising the flag of reform and candidate Park Yong-jin for making the Democratic Party younger.”

“You have given Lee Jae-myung who has been fighting against those with all kinds of vested interests over the past 30 years a mission to complete an economic reform to improve people’s lives, a social reform and a national reform,” Lee continued. “I will solemnly follow the people’s orders.”

“I represent some people until I become the president but, I will represent everyone when I become the President,” Lee continued.

“I will create a country of great integration where everyone can receive equal opportunities. I will repay you with good results as I have done so far. I will show you how much change a single public official, the President, can make.”

Candidate Lee referred to suspicions surrounding the Daejang-dong Development Project as the “Hwacheon Daeyu-Gate” involving the People Power Party, saying, “This presidential election is the final battle against corrupt people with vested interests,” Lee said.

“I will banish the stigma of Korea as a nation where real estate speculation can result in windfall income with strong real estate reform immediately if I win the presidential election in 2022. I will surely root out corruptions and irregularities of political forces who have a cozy relationship with real estate speculators.”

In addition to a national system to take back development profits from the private sector, Lee will expand the disclosure of construction costs of apartment houses implemented by Seongnam City and Gyeonggi Province across the country, he said.

“Today, we chose change and reform,” Lee stressed. “It is a clear and stern order from the people to eliminate windfall income and create a country where industrious people live well, receiving respect. I will solemnly execute the order of the people. I will surely complete the change and reform demanded by the people.”

Lee defined the present as a period of major transformation, saying, “I will turn the current crisis into an opportunity whatever it takes. I will boldly rise up to great challenges with the great people of Korea.”

“I will rev up the Korean economy with a strong state-led economic revival policy,” Lee underscored. “I will eradicate unfairness and irrationality in all areas of people’s lives including real estate, recruitment, education, tax, economy, society, and culture. I will create the world’s first country to pay basic income and a country that protects basic lives with basic housing and basic finance.”

“I will create a country where no one can benefit from breaking rules and no one loses money or face disadvantages by following the rules,” Lee said. “Those who make special sacrifices should be given special rewards in all areas and regions.”