Visited Kim Hyung-o... Hong Joon-pyo and Kim Tae-ho "No Change in Running for Hometown"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] On the 9th, Kim Hyung-o, the nomination committee chairman of the Liberty Korea Party, personally visited former leader Hong Joon-pyo and Gyeongnam Governor Kim Tae-ho to encourage them to run in the Seoul metropolitan area but returned empty-handed.

On the morning of the same day, Chairman Kim met privately for about 40 minutes with former leader Hong, who had declared his candidacy for the Miryang, Uiryeong, Haman, and Changnyeong electoral district, at his Miryang office and requested him to run in Seoul.

Immediately after the meeting, Chairman Kim said, "I fully conveyed whether it would be better for Representative Hong to be active in Miryang, Changnyeong, etc., or to go to Seoul, given that South Korea is currently in a crisis situation," and added, "We discussed what attitude a leader should take when the people demand it." He also addressed supporters, saying, "I fully understand your wish for Representative Hong to run in his hometown, but please advise for the future of South Korea."

Chairman Kim also said, "Today, I tried to take (former leader Hong's) hand and go up to Seoul." However, former leader Hong later stated, "Although I was encouraged to run in Seoul, my intention to run in my hometown remains unchanged."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Afterwards, Chairman Kim moved to Geochang to meet former Governor Kim, who had declared his candidacy for the Sancheong, Hamyang, Geochang, and Hapcheon electoral district, and asked him to make a decision to run in Seoul. However, former Governor Kim refused, saying, "My position remains unchanged. I will run where I love and where I am wanted," and added, "Elections are reality, and I cannot ignore the numerous promises made to local residents."

Meanwhile, the Gyeongnam Provincial Party of the Liberty Korea Party issued a statement titled "Party leaders must step up to the front lines to save the party and the country" on the same day, criticizing former leader Hong and former Governor Kim.

The provincial party stated, "At this difficult time for the party and with the Gyeongnam economy also precarious, party leaders, who are valuable assets, should not be complacent by pledging to devote themselves only to their hometowns, which the party members and residents of Gyeongnam do not want to see," and urged, "If leaders who can represent the whole country remain in Gyeongnam's stronghold, Representative Hwang Kyo-ahn's decision may not bear fruit. We urge you to turn your focus to the fiercely contested areas even now."