Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, attended a key labor meeting at the presidential office on May 14, urging a nationwide expansion of unions to basic farm workers and non-regular employees. He emphasized transforming rural areas through policies like rural basic income and half-month wage enhancements.
Agriculture as National Backbone
Agriculture stands as a vital national pillar, directly challenging the country’s sovereignty and citizens’ livelihoods, Lee stated. He highlighted risks from large-scale farms and corporate dominance, along with right-wing influences in presidential selections that limit production to specific regions.
“Agriculture challenges the sovereignty and life of the people as a major national task,” Lee declared. “Large farms bring corporate risks and central right-wing presidential choices confine production to certain areas.”
Boosting Incomes and Union Reach
Lee called for scaling up basic rural income programs and half-month wages, noting that labor discrimination in short-term jobs and sea changes in businesses concentrate income among a few. “Farm unions and basic income operations show results where service and labor grow, benefiting people as well,” he added.
To elevate farmers’ earnings, policies must dramatically expand basic farm income and half-month income initiatives, fostering a great rural transformation, according to Lee.
Future industries require activating infrastructure and robotics in smart farms. This demands enhanced policy funding, education for producers and consumers alike, and building distribution structures for rural products, he explained.
Reforming Labor Unions
Labor unions must safeguard workers’ rights above all, yet current realities fall short, Lee observed. “Unions made from workers’ bodies must become whole through workers’ hearts,” he urged.
He advocated selecting executives democratically in union power dynamics, boosting control, and promoting normal growth incentives. “Even genuine unions and related groups should incorporate direct selections,” Lee stressed, pushing for legal support to shift from one-sided images to balanced operations.
Gwangju Election Strategy
In the largest provincial hub of Gwangju, full support for social actors in vote mobilization carries significant weight, Lee noted. He warned of strengthening predictions and deposits through momentum.
“Resolve citizens’ anxieties before votes with special activities,” he said. Victims of online harm face damages 100 times worse in a second wave, demanding heightened strengthening, according to Lee.
