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Kim Moon-soo, presidential candidate of the ruling People Power Party, holds up a letter he received from a child during a campaign rally titled "The Great Comeback: Anyang Focused Rally" in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, on May 29. / Source: Song Ui-joo

People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo, intensifying his campaign in Gyeonggi Province, rolled out a series of pro-women and pro-family policies on May 29, emphasizing the need to create a Korea where mothers face no financial or workplace disadvantages for having children.

Kim’s pledges include up to 100 million won in education support per child through elementary, middle, and high school, expanded public daycare and after-school programs, extended parental leave, increased parental leave pay, promotion incentives for women after childbirth, and additional points for military service in employment and housing applications.

Speaking at a campaign rally around 6 p.m. at Anyang Pyeongchon Rodeo Street, Kim declared, "I plan to give parents 100 million won per child. Initially, I wanted to deposit it all at once right after birth, but since investments could go wrong, it will be distributed — 25 million won each at the start of elementary and middle school, and 50 million won for high school."

Kim continued, "Some mothers can’t return to work after childbirth because parental leave is too short. When I was labor minister, I extended it to 1.5 years for both mothers and fathers, making a total of three years. I also increased combined parental leave pay to nearly 980,000 won per month. I’ll continue improving the system so having children is not a financial burden, but a benefit."

He further stressed the importance of balancing work and family life. "We need to significantly expand daycare centers and strengthen after-school programs so parents can work while raising children. There are many trained teachers unemployed — we’ll hire them for multi-shift after-school programs. It’ll create jobs and reduce reliance on private tutoring."

Regarding military service incentives, Kim pledged, "Men and women who serve in the military should receive extra points when applying for jobs and housing. Those who serve the country deserve benefits. I will be a president who ensures global corporations build factories and invest in Korea, creating abundant jobs."

Earlier at the rally, Jeon Byung-heon, leader of the New Future Democratic Party, made a surprise appearance to endorse Kim. "If the Democratic Party had fielded a proper candidate, I wouldn’t be here. I stand here to help block this monstrous authoritarian regime," Jeon said. "Let’s stop the sham Democratic Party led by Lee Jae-myung through Kim Moon-soo."

Jeon added, "I left Lee’s party to rebuild the true Democratic Party. Lee’s vulgar and dishonest language is notorious — is such a person fit to occupy the highest office in Korea?"

In response, Kim said, "With Jeon and former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, we are building a true big-tent coalition to stop this monstrous authoritarian government. We will win — decisively and surely."

Later that day, at another rally near Ansan Cultural Square, Kim addressed economic concerns. "Right now, Korean companies are fleeing overseas. I aim to slow and stop this trend. We must attract companies back to Korea."

He pointed to structural issues: "Sky-rocketing land prices, expensive labor, and disruptive unions are driving companies away. Korea’s strike-related work stoppages are more than ten times higher than Japan’s. If we don’t fix this, Korea has no future."

Kim, who comes from a labor union background, added, "Even my family is union-based. But if companies leave, there will be no unions left. Without companies, unions can’t fight for wage hikes. I’m not betraying the unions — I’m trying to save them. Without companies, there is nothing left to negotiate."