Progressive Party's Kim Jong-hun enters leadership race, vows to 'stop runaway inequality'

Kim Jong-hun, a former Progressive Party lawmaker, declared his candidacy for party leader Monday, saying he would "devote everything" to a new leap forward for the party.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly that day, Kim said he would "stop the runaway of inequality and protect the lives of the people."

"A semiconductor boom means enormous surplus tax revenues are expected," he said. "That money must be returned to the people's lives." He proposed that the ruling and opposition parties jointly form a "100 trillion won committee" to work toward spreading prosperity evenly across society.

Kim also said strong progressive politics begins with a strong party, pledging to transform the Progressive Party into a mass party ready to take power.

To that end, he outlined five goals: cultivating 200 alternative political leaders, holding a national rally for people's livelihood recovery, hosting a 10th anniversary founding forum for a major transformation, winning the 2028 general election, and building a political platform for the 2030s.

Kim also pledged to abolish the National Security Act and reclaim wartime operational control, saying the party must "resolve the structure of hostile confrontation and restore inter-Korean relations."

The Progressive Party will hold regional campaign tours and debates before conducting a vote to elect its new leader from July 20 to 24, with results to be announced on July 24.