Ahn Cheol-soo, People's Power lawmaker: ”Scientists and business people, not lawyers, should lead the country” (South Korea)

Ahn Cheol-soo, a lawmaker from the People Power Party (ruling party) who ran in the June 3 presidential election, said on the 13th, "I will push for a constitutional reform referendum along with the 2026 local elections."
Rep. Ahn announced his presidential election pledges in the National Assembly on the same day, stating, "Instead of the 1987 constitutional system, which has already outlived its usefulness, we will promote a decentralized constitutional amendment referendum along with the local elections in 2026."
Along with the end of the imperial presidential system, Rep. Ahn also proposed the introduction of a prime minister-in-charge system and a medium-sized electoral district system, as well as the abolition of the Agency for Investigation of Crimes by High-Ranking Public Officials.
In particular, he said, "We are in an era where the country must be led not by lawyers of the past, but by scientists and business people who understand the future," and called for the creation of a "second generation of leaders" through the development of strategic industries including artificial intelligence (AI).
He emphasized that he will realize a "science-based nation." In this regard, he said, "We will develop AI, semiconductors, future mobility, bio, and K-service industries as five strategic industries and make Korea the most dynamic and innovative country in the world."
He also pledged to make South Korea a "strong nation" by 2035, to be one of the world's top three in AI, and to train one million core personnel in science and technology.
He also pledged to increase the ratio to 5% of the gross domestic product (GDP). He also pledged to create a sustainable nation through five major reforms in the areas of pensions, education, labor, healthcare, and the public sector, and to innovate regional universities, build a wide-area transportation network, and
Other major pledges include eliminating welfare blind spots, implementing real estate policies centered on actual users, and implementing measures to combat the low birthrate, such as a national responsibility system for caring for children aged 0 to 5.
"We must move forward to a stronger, more just and safer country," said Ahn. "We must create a country where honest people do not suffer losses, where people who work hard receive a fair price, and where everyone can grow together."
"We will definitely create a fair and just country," he repeatedly emphasized.