[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Justice Party Honam city and provincial parties (Gwangju Metropolitan City Party, Jeonnam Provincial Party, Jeonbuk Provincial Party) condemned the proposed merger of the three Honam-based parties led by Ahn Cheol-soo, chairman of the founding committee of the tentative-named “People’s Party,” calling it a “founding game” by politicians who insult the spirit of democracy in Honam.
On the 17th, the Justice Party Honam city and provincial parties held a press conference at the Gwangju Metropolitan Council, stating, “The news of opportunistic politicians’ alliances that inevitably appear every election season is being repeated this time as well,” and criticized, “Yesterday, Mr. Ahn Cheol-soo mentioned Honam while founding the People’s Party Gwangju City Party, and today, old politicians distorting the spirit of democracy in Honam are playing ‘founding games’ under the pretext of Honam-based politics.”
They continued, “It is deeply regrettable to see politicians scrambling to extend their personal political vested interests by hopping from one party to another, even though the public’s judgment has already been made,” and asserted, “What we cannot truly forgive is that they act as if they represent Honam, thereby damaging Honam’s political pride.”
They added, “Honam fiercely fought to protect the country and democracy from foreign forces and dictatorship, from the Donghak Peasant Revolution to the Gwangju Student Movement and the Gwangju Uprising,” and explained, “Moreover, Honam has always led democracy and reform in South Korea, including the June Democratic Uprising of 1987 and the candlelight protests that impeached Park Geun-hye.”
They stated, “There is no longer a place for opportunists in the politics that Honam truly desires,” pointing out, “Political reforms, prosecution reforms, livelihood reforms, respect for labor, and income-led growth, all of which the entire nation longed for, have always been stalled due to the political abuses of the Liberty Korea Party, which renamed itself the United Future Party.”
They also criticized, “The Democratic Party’s reforms have faltered and even regressed at some point,” and sharply criticized, “Four years ago, the People’s Party, the number one party in Honam, should have carried the hopes of Honam and steered the wavering Democratic Party to complete reforms, but the People’s Party, Bareunmirae Party, Democratic Peace Party, and Alternative New Party have gone in circles, focusing only on splitting and merging for their political interests, holding Honam hostage as they return to the People’s Party and Democratic United Party.”
They emphasized, “The Justice Party will create the reforms that Honam truly desires and the future of South Korea,” highlighting reforms that guarantee basic income for farmers and fishermen, support small and medium-sized merchants, eliminate discrimination against irregular workers, and reforms that prevent the suffering of not being able to go to the hospital due to lack of money and the decades-long hardship of buying a home. They also stressed reforms where the state takes responsibility to ensure that young people, who start their lives burdened with debt right after graduating from university and face unfair beginnings, are guaranteed jobs and can take on new challenges without fear.”
They appealed for support, saying, “We will represent the values that Honam truly desires, lead uninterrupted reforms, and open a new era of progressive politics centered on Honam.”
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