Song Young-gil

Song Young-gil (born 21 March 1963) is a South Korean politician who served as the Leader of the centre-liberal Democratic Party from 2 May 2021 until 10 March 2022. He was Member of the National Assembly, as well as the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the 21st National Assembly. He also held various positions such as the Chair of the Democratic Party's Special Committee on Peace and Cooperation in Northeast Asia and as the Chair of the Presidential Committee on Northern Economic Cooperation. He previously served as Mayor of Incheon from 2010 to 2014. Prior to serving as mayor, he was a democratic movement student activist and a member of the Korean National Assembly for three terms. He is a practicing Catholic.
Life
Early life
Song, Young-gil was born in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, the fourth son of a poor civil servant. He grew up in a rural area and was inspired by nature. In May 1980 when he was a senior high school student, he witnessed the Gwangju Democratization Movement. Seeing the deaths of innocent citizens with his own eyes marked a turning point in his life. After entering Yonsei University to study business management in 1981, he joined the anti-dictatorship movement without any hesitation. In 1984, he succeeded in removing the government-controlled student body and reinstated the student council. He subsequently became the first ever directly elected president of the student council and thereafter led the student democratization movement. He was jailed as a result. In 1988, he was recognized for his contribution to democratization and had his rights reinstated.
Labor movement
After release from jail in 1985, Song moved to Incheon to start life as a laborer. He became a welder at the Daewoo Motor factory in Incheon. He also worked in watch, glove, and furniture factories for two years. In 1987 with the support of Germany's human rights foundation ‘Bread for the World’ and Kim, Dae-joong, Kim, Young-sam and other politicians, Song established ‘Christian Public Education Research Institutes’ in Bupyeong, Incheon. Song conducted legal counseling for human rights violations, education on labor unions, and provided legal support. While working as a taxi driver, he democratized the Taxi Labor Union and became the first Secretary-General of the National Taxi Trade Union, Incheon Division in 1991. He dedicated himself in promoting the rights of transportation laborers.
Human rights lawyer
After passing the National Bar Examination in 1994, he went to Incheon. He worked as a human rights lawyer.
Political career
He ran in the 1999 by-election to help people in need but lost because the general public was disenchanted by politics at the time. Shortly afterwards, Song began his career as a National Assemblyman in 2000.
Human rights activities
Based on his experience as a lawyer, Song applied to work for the Legislation & Judiciary Committee to take care of bills that are closely related to the people's livelihood and human rights. Song led a National assembly delegation which attended a Human Rights and Parliamentary Conference for the five Northeast Asian nations which was held in Mongolia. At the conference, he made a speech about the human rights situation in Korea and proposed legislation on anti-humanitarian crimes. As a member of the Legislation & Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly, Song played a crucial role in creating a law on the National Human Rights Commission. Song also assumed the role of Chairman of the Democratic Party's Commission on the Yong-san Tragedy to negotiate with the government and Seoul City over much delayed compensation and funeral issues.
Correcting distorted history
Events during the Japanese colonization of Korea have been thorny issues for decades, including the issue of compensation for Korean comfort women used by the Japanese army, the distorted history which appears in Japanese textbooks, and the name and territorial rights over the islet of Dokdo. In response to this, Song proposed a resolution on the distortion of Japanese history books and the elimination of vestiges of the Japanese colonial period with other lawmakers, calling for immediate action by the Korean government. In 2001, through the activities of a special committee, Song sent CDs containing information on Japan's invasion, comfort women and the distortion of Japanese history books to 600 overseas institutions, demanding Japan's apology and asking for the support of other nations. In addition to calling for Japan's apology, Song attended the Joint Conference of the Korea-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Council and proposed a statement which sought ways for Korea and Japan to cooperate in diverse areas as new partners. As such, Song has underscored a more accurate perception of history and contributed to a future-oriented partnership.
Support for Myanmar's democratization movement
Song thought that there should be keen interest in and support for Myanmar from the whole world as well as Korea, and has cooperated with it since 2003. In 2007, he and 13 lawmakers who were dedicated to the democratization of Korea during the dictatorship in the 1980s jointly proposed a resolution that supported the democratization of Myanmar and donated money that had been raised to the Korean branch of the Myanmar Democratization Alliance. In October 2008, they announced a resolution which called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest and expressed support for the Myanmare people who continued to struggle against the junta. They also sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban, Ki-moon and Myanmar military regime to urge the democratization of Myanmar.
Inter-Korean exchanges
Song has said that to prepare for reunification and to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, the South needs to increase similarities through economic, political and cultural exchanges with the North, which would help the North Korean economy increase its self-reliance. He believes that to bring lasting peace to the Korean Peninsula, new changes are much needed. In this context, Song went to Pyeongyang with young businessmen in 2003 and discussed the possibility of expanding economic cooperation and cultural exchanges between the two Koreas.
Song has also visited Gaeseong Industrial Complex several times which has been playing a critical role in ensuring the self-reliance of North Korea and contributing to peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the world. Through these visits, he saw for himself the importance of Gaeseong Industrial Complex for Korean small enterprises as new sales channels. He held meetings with businessmen and government officials to encourage more companies to move to the North which might in turn induce the communist nation to introduce reform and openness.
Song and the Democratic Party urged the government to carry out what had been agreed upon in the June 15 and October 4 Joint Declaration to improve relations between the two Koreas which had been strained by the tough stance of the current administration on North Korea. He also called on the government to enter dialogue with the North and to closely cooperate with neighboring countries to form 6-party talks which play such a vital role in the joint security of Northeast Asia.
After becoming Incheon Mayor in 2010, Mayor Song declared Incheon to be the outpost of reconciliation, exchanges, peace and reunification of the two Koreas. Despite opposition from the government, he has insisted that there should be peace on the 5 islands near the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea for the economic development of Incheon. At the same time, Song has provided products to mothers and babies in North Korea through an agreement with the Korea Peace Foundation, which opened a door that was shut after the North's sinking of the Cheonan.
Enhancing competitiveness for small and medium enterprises
While working for 6 years as a member of the Finance & Economy Committee in the National Assembly, Song felt that the main driver of Korea's economy came from the small companies which account for 80% of all companies and therefore that the most important thing is to lay down foundations for those firms to grow. In 2008, most small exporting firms bought currency option products called KIKO (Knock-in Knock-out) to avoid the risk of foreign exchange rate fluctuations. The companies were about to collapse again due to the inappropriate exchange rate policy of the current government but the government didn't take the proper measures to rescue small companies. Song urged the Democratic Party to pay keen interest in this issue and to find solutions. By forming a special committee, he held dozens of meetings with small enterprises and led hearings to narrow differences and find solutions. In due course, he got a promise from the government to provide speedy support for small enterprises which performed well.
Diplomatic activities
He became the Chairman of the Korean-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Council's 21st Century Committee in 2004, and consequently held discussions and conferences on the various issues concerning Korea and Japan. He was also the Chairman of the Korea-France Parliaments’ Friendship Association and led active exchanges to promote knowledge about the EU and France. In 2007, he received Légion d'Honneur Chevalier from France for his dedication in promoting relations between Korea and France.
After his second term, Song realized the importance of diplomacy and visited and received other nations in order to increase exchanges and deepen the understanding of the US, Australia, China and other neighboring nations.
When the Korea-US FTA negotiations began in 2006, Song became the Chairman of the Uri Party's Special Committee on the Korea-US FTA in order to reflect the opinions of stakeholders and to take measures. As such, he was able to expand exchanges with US officials including negotiation delegates and US congressmen. As the recognition of products from Gaesong Industrial Complex as Korean products became a hot issue, Song exchanged opinions on Gaeseong Industrial Complex that could help North Korea's self-reliance and guarantee peace on the Korean Peninsula. In 2007, at the invitation of a US senator, he attended a reception marking the opening of the US Congress and discussed the Korea-US FTA, the North Korean nuclear program, and peace on the Korean Peninsula with then presidential nominee Obama, Senator Biden and other congressmen of the Democratic Party.
In 2008, the results of the US presidential election and the Democratic Party's regaining control after 8 years demanded new cooperation and close exchanges between Korea and the US. Song formed a Special Committee on Korea-US Relations Development and as chairman he endeavored to establish balanced diplomatic relations between Korea and the US, develop inter-Korean relations, enhance the Korea-US alliance, and promote economic cooperation including the Korea-US FTA.
In the 2020s, his diplomat leaned much more pro-American, but at the same time, he is friendly to North Korea. He believes that the U.S. should lead the easing of sanctions on North Korea, recognition of the Kim Jong-un regime, and declaration of the 'Declaration of the end' (종전선언 or 종전협정). He met with U.S. congressmen on November 24, 2021 and strongly proposed making North Korea a pro-U.S. state. On the other hand, he is hostile to Japan.
Incheon mayoral election
When he declared his intention to run in the Incheon mayoral election, Song explained that he was running to win. At that time, the victory of the Democratic Party in the three metropolitan areas of Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon was uncertain, but he made it clear that he would win in Incheon, triggering victories in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, which will lay the foundations for a change of administration.
With the announcement of his running, Song talked about his plans for nurturing small enterprises, balancing development between the old and new town, expanding welfare provision, enhancing educational competitiveness, and providing free eco-friendly meals to make Incheon the economic capital of Korea.
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Tsinghua University
Song ran for 6th local election (Incheon mayoral election) in 2014. After losing the election against Yoo, Jeong Bok by 1.75%, He decided to study abroad at Tsinghua University in China. While he was studying at Tsinghua University, his research foci were housing, jobs and the welfare system. He returned to Korea in 2015. Following October, he launched ‘eat and live’ research lab to further develop his research at Tsinghua University into policies.
Member of the 20th National Assembly
On 1 March 2016, Song declared that he is running for the National Assembly as a Democrat in Incheon's Gyeyang (B) constituency, which he represented in previous years. He considered running in competitive constituency. However, he decided to run in Gyeyang (B) after assemblyman Choi, Won Sik leaves the Democratic Party despite Song's persuasion to stay. Song declared that he will run for the party leadership after the general election and he said that he takes the full responsibility of the entire elections in Incheon and will recover the Incheon politics. On 13 April 2016, he won the post by 12% against Yoon, Hyung-sun of Saenuri Party. He returned to the National Assembly after 6 years since he ran for the 5th General election in 2010
On 24 July 2016, He declared his running for the party leadership. He pledged to devote himself to make the Party into a ‘strong’ opposition and to replace the Saenuri government in the upcoming presidential election. He was considered to be the leading candidate who represented the wide mainstream democrats. However, he lost the primary election. Political commentators analyze Song's 'cut-off' with two reasons, disparity of ‘pro-Roh’ (pro-Roh, Moo-Hyun) voters and the very last minute leadership bid waged by Lee, Jong-kul, which gathered strong ‘non-Roh’ voters.
On 8 February 2017, Song joined Moon, Jae-in's campaign for the 19th Presidential Election as chief campaign manager. It is later known that Moon persuaded Song several times to join his presidential campaign. Song commented that “I also considered running for the presidential election, however, I decided to cooperate with Moon to replace the government and believe that helping Moon is answering the call of the people of Republic of Korea”
At the beginning of Moon's presidency, Song has been designated as the special envoy of President Moon Jae-in to the Russian Federation in May 2017. In following August, Song became the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Northern Economic Cooperation., which holds the equivalent grade of a deputy prime minister.
Leader of the Democratic Party
On 2 May 2021, Song was elected the new president of the Democratic Party. He received 35.60%, barely defeating Hong Young-pyo with a margin of 0.59%.
On 7 March 2022, just two days before the 2022 South Korean presidential election, Song was attacked while campaigning for the presidential candidate, Lee Jae-myung, in Sinchon. He was immediately brought to a nearby hospital, and is reportedly safe. Several Democratic MPs were criticised for labelling the incident as a "far-right terrorism", although the suspect was reportedly a Democratic-friendly YouTuber.
Seoul Mayoral Election
On April 1, 2022, he declared his candidacy for the Seoul Mayor election during the 8th National Simultaneous Local Election. He became the Democratic candidate by beating former lawmaker Kim Jin-ae through the Democratic primary. However, in the main election, he lost to Oh Se-hoon.
Election results
Recognition
2000 - Selected as the best National Assemblyman for Inspection of National Affairs
2001~2004 - Selected as the best National Assembly research groups
Ethical Politics Research Group
Lawmakers to Nurture National Spirit
Lawmakers for the National Interest and Culture
2003~2004 - Selected as the outstanding National Assembly research groups
Ethical Politics Research Group
Lawmakers to Nurture National Spirit
2005~2008 - Selected as the outstanding National Assembly research group
Market Economy and Social Safety Net Forum (co-head)
2009 - Légion d'Honneur Chevalier, France
2010 - Proud Yonsei People Award, Yonsei University
2013 - Орден Дружбы, Russia
2016 - Selected as the outstanding National Assembly research
국민의 먹고사는 문제해결을 위한 의원연구모임 'Forum to better the livelihood of the people of Republic of Korea' (co-head)
2022 - Légion d'Honneur Officier, France
Publications
Song Young-gil (2003) Follow this Path like a Bull
Song Young-gil (2009) Turning Walls into Doors
Song Young-gil (2020) 송영길의 지구본 외교: 둥근것이 강한 것을 이긴다!
References
Living people
Mayors of Incheon
1963 births
Recipients of the Legion of Honour
South Korean taxi drivers
Yonsei University alumni
Young-gil
People from Goheung County