"Ban Ki-moon's Experience of Failure, Application to Current Situation"
Jung Sye-kyun Leaves Before New Prime Minister Appointment, Faces Criticism for Irresponsibility
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Kwon Young-se, a member of the People Power Party who is running for party leader, stated on the 12th, "There is a tendency to view the confrontation structure as Seoul metropolitan area versus Yeongnam, or first-term versus veteran, as a divisive structure," adding, "I do not think this is a desirable situation."
On the same day, Kwon appeared on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strongest Current Affairs' and said, "This party convention should be evaluated from the perspective of who has more experience and passion to reform the party and manage the presidential election well, regardless of whether they are first-term or veteran, from Yeongnam or the metropolitan area," adding, "It is not appropriate to choose one side in a divisive manner."
He added, "While reformist spirit and passion are important, realistically speaking, experience and wisdom to manage the complex and variable presidential election process from the primaries to the general election are absolutely necessary. It is a situation where you cannot choose just one."
Regarding the image of the party becoming a 'Yeongnam-only party' in this convention, he said, "Reformism does not change based on one's region of origin," and added, "I fully agree that the metropolitan area is very important because if you do not gain support from the metropolitan area, you cannot be elected, and ultimately, the regime will be lost again."
On the reinstatement of independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo to the party, he said, "It is time for the party to accept him," and stated, "Whether Hong Joon-pyo becomes our party's (presidential) candidate or not is a decision for party members and the public, not something decided top-down by some leaders."
He expressed optimism about former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl joining the People Power Party, saying, "Ultimately, if former Prosecutor General Yoon declares his political career, it will be advantageous for him to join the People Power Party platform. I believe that is the reality."
Regarding the Blue House's request to the National Assembly the previous day to resubmit the ministerial candidate hearing report, he expressed serious concern. Kwon said, "Forcing this situation now only means directly fighting against the people," and added, "One thing I want to say is that with no new prime minister appointed yet, no matter how urgent former Prime Minister Jeong Se-gyun's political schedule is, leaving before the prime minister is appointed is very irresponsible."
Kwon emphasized his experience of being elected four times only in the metropolitan area to appeal himself. He said, "I failed while assisting former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2017," but also added, "In some ways, the experience of failure can be applied to the current situation."
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