Yang Ki-dae, a preliminary candidate for Gyeonggi Province Governor representing the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), strongly urged party leadership on the 9th to introduce policy debates among primary candidates along with a citizen jury system.

At a press conference held March 9 at the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly, Yang stated, "This primary election makes it difficult to find intense policy competition or forward-looking visions, and there is insufficient verification of which candidate has the capability to resolve Gyeonggi Province's most pressing challenges," adding, "This is precisely what I am calling a 'blackout primary.'"

He argued that "evading scrutiny is a betrayal of both residents and party members," and proposed hosting an "open policy debate among the five candidates."

Regarding debate topics, he said candidates should go head-to-head without restrictions on time or format on Gyeonggi Province's core issues, including real estate and youth housing, prices and the cost of living, AI industry strategy, balanced development of northern Gyeonggi, and economic recovery for ordinary citizens.

Yang also stated that a forum to discuss concrete measures for implementing "the eradication of Yoon Suk-yeol's insurrectionary forces and judicial reform at the provincial level" would likewise be necessary.

He further called for the introduction of a "Policy Jury System," in which citizens and party members could directly observe and evaluate candidates' debate performances and proposed solutions.

He added, "Since candidate Kwon Chil-seung has already agreed to both the debate and the jury system, I look forward to the other candidates' wholehearted participation."

On his own campaign strategy, Yang emphasized, "I will engage in no negative campaigning whatsoever beyond policy scrutiny," and noted that "approval ratings gained by tearing down opponents are like castles built on sand."

He pledged, "I will compete solely on the basis of the drive and administrative achievements that once created the 'Miracle of Gwangmyeong Cave,' along with distinctive and realistic policy proposals." This was an apparent reference to the repurposed abandoned mine that was turned into a popular tourist attraction with light installations and an attached them park. Yang was a major supporter of the Gwangmyeong Cave project.

In closing, he stated, "Gyeonggi Province's success will lead directly to the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration," and urged party leadership to "make a swift and wise decision that will allow the primary to become a festival of vision and policy — and pave the way to a landslide victory in the general election."

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(translated by AI, edited by David Kendall)