The five opposition parties formally released their agreement to create their first set of progressive policies in what they are calling a ‘policy coalition’ for the June 2 regional elections on March 8 following their announcement of solidarity on March 4. Their outlined policies will include the expansion of the free school lunch program for students and resolving discrimination against irregular workers.

The group held a press conference at the National Assembly and said, “The five opposition parties have reached an agreement over the first set of progressive policies for the June 2 regional elections, which will improve living conditions of the common people and serve as an alternative to foster future-oriented policymaking.” They added, “The five opposition parties will achieve a victory for the common people at the June 2 regional elections through our policy coalition.”

The five opposition parties, which are the Democratic Party (DP), the Democratic Labor Party (DLP), the Creative Korea Party (CKP), the New Progressive Party (NPP) and the People‘s Participation Party (PPP), reached this agreement through the formation of the Committee for a Policy Coalition, in addition to holding a meeting of party representatives.

The five opposition parties say the matter of job creation is their number one priority, and have agreed to pursue job expansions in public services and install an employment center as a basic unit of local governments.

The coalition also decided upon policies such as the expansion of the free school lunch program for students and the expansion of scholarships for students from low-income families as core parts of their educational policies in the June 2 regional elections.

On the issue of irregular workers, the coalition agreed to cooperate to eliminate discrimination against them and promote efforts to transform them into regular workers.

The coalition also agreed to oppose the Lee Myung-bak administratin’s unilateral pursuit of the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project and convert its budgetary allotment to programs to support the livelihood of the common people. The coalition is also in opposition to the revisions to the Sejong City Development Plan and supports the original plan, opposes tax cuts for the wealthy, supports the annulment of the Central Investigation Division of the Prosecutor General’s Office, supports the recognition and fulfillment of the June 15 2000 Joint Declaration and the October 4 2007 Summit Declaration, and is opposed to the redeployment of South Korean troops to Afghanistan.

The coalition agreed to continue discussions to a unified policy agreement on issues that are currently undecided including the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).

Byun Jae-il, vice policymaker of the DP said, “The five opposition parties will continue discussions to reach agreements and transform them into concrete campaign pledges.”

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