Won Hee-ryong "Let Moderates and Conservatives Unite"
Kim Moo-sung "Who Could Be Worse Than Moon Jae-in?"
Oh Se-hoon, Ahn Cheol-soo, and Yoo Seung-min Also Soon to Speak
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju, expressed his vision and aspirations as a presidential candidate on the 15th, saying, "I want to run as the representative player of our team."
On the afternoon of the same day, at the "Forum for a Better World" (Mapo Forum), Governor Won said, "I have run in five elections combined as a member of the National Assembly and governor, and as long as the party nominates me, I have never lost to the Democratic Party. That’s because I know how to win."
To resolve the stagnation in approval ratings, Governor Won emphasized that there are three options: ▲consolidation of conservatives ▲centrists opposing Moon Jae-in ▲integration of conservatives and centrists, and only the Won Hee-ryong model (conservative-centrist integration) can bring victory. He explained, "The first method (consolidation of conservatives) will lose again. Since it does not acknowledge the centrists, there is no expansion. The second method (centrists opposing Moon) is subtraction; since it does not acknowledge conservatives, it cannot create a bigger whole. The Won Hee-ryong model is addition. 1+1, it means conservatives and centrists becoming one toward a better Republic of Korea."
Governor Won said, "It is not about going back to the past but moving toward the future while recognizing the contributions of the forces of industrialization in Korea’s development," adding, "Making a better Korea cannot be done alone. Politics is not a solo act but a team play, and without a one-team spirit, you cannot win."
He stated, "It doesn’t matter if I am not the one who implements the Won Hee-ryong model. As long as it can be realized, it is fine," and added, "Former Liberty Korea Party leader Hong Joon-pyo and People’s Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo are all good. But the Won Hee-ryong model is best understood by Won Hee-ryong himself."
Governor Won said, "I started politics 20 years ago under the name of the Grand National Party. When my friends and peers chose the Democratic Party, I stood with the conservatives because I believed that supporting Korea and protecting the community was conservatism," and added, "I believed in the dynamism of conservatism in Korea’s history, so I stood with conservatives and have never betrayed them in 20 years."
He said, "I am free from negative frames, and there is nothing the opposition can grab on me regarding past issues, morality, or harsh remarks," adding, "There is a story. I am confident I won’t lose in stories like being a dirt spoon or a dragon from a small stream. I am not at all behind the Democratic Party candidates currently mentioned in terms of democratization movements. Being from Jeju, I am confident I can embrace Jeolla, Gyeongsang, and Chungcheong provinces as one."
After the lecture, Governor Won told reporters, "There were many diagnoses and exchanges of opinions on how to overcome our party’s unfavorable image," and added, "The most impressive was former lawmaker Kim Moo-sung saying that all our country’s presidents have become dictators, and that we need to come up with a plan to unify Korea and enhance efficiency by sharing and dispersing power."
Regarding next year’s Seoul mayoral by-election, Governor Won said, "The party’s strength and base in the Seoul area are in a very difficult situation. If the election is held now, it will be very difficult," and added, "The party must show signs of change and allow more citizens to participate in candidate selection. To do that, we need to create rules that allow good candidates to participate regardless of inside or outside the party."
Former lawmaker Kim said, "Among the candidates currently mentioned within the party, who would be worse than Moon Jae-in, who is ruining our country?" targeting President Moon Jae-in. He added, "Many say there are no people in our party, but I don’t think so at all," and said, "When the real competition begins, a star will be born."
Kim said, "What is important for presidential candidates is a strong will to become president and save the country from hardship," adding, "Due to various circumstances, our party’s candidates have not shown that, but I hope today will be a good opportunity to actively express their will."
Kim said, "This election is about how to make the game rules and firmly form an anti-Moon coalition so that all candidates who share the same will participate and select the player."
About 30 people attended the forum, including former lawmaker Kim as the chair, and lawmakers Kim Jung-jae, Kang Seok-ho, Kim Sung-tae, Kim Hak-yong, Lee Hye-hoon, and former lawmaker Hwang Young-chul. On the 22nd, former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon will be invited for a lecture, and on the 12th of next month, People’s Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo will be invited. Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min is also coordinating his schedule.
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