Yoo Seung-min: "I'm the one to catch Lee Jae-myung, who deceives well with sweet promises"

"Park Geun-hye Never Betrayed, Regrets Not Stopping Those Who Covered Their Eyes and Ears"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, appealed for support on the 16th, saying that although his support might be lower compared to other intra-party competitors, he is confident he can face off against Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, in the general election. He stated that he has "never betrayed" former President Park Geun-hye and expressed regret, saying, "I regret not being able to stop those who blocked the president's eyes and ears."

Source = Provided by Yoo Seung-min's campaign

On the same day, Yoo visited the party member council in the Busan region to meet with party members. At the Busan Haeundae-gap party member council, which is the constituency of lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung, who competed with him in the presidential primary, he said, "Candidate Lee Jae-myung is very quick-witted, aggressive, highly adaptable, and a person who deceives the public well with sweet promises," adding, "I dare say that I am confident I will definitely win if I fight against candidate Lee Jae-myung."

Yoo said, "In my view, the election on March 9 next year will be one where we either win or lose by a margin of 1 to 2%," and explained, "Since the Democratic Party's base is in Honam, votes will go that way. Lee, having served as governor of Gyeonggi Province, which has the largest population of 13 million in the country, has distributed a lot of money, and if you go to Gyeonggi Province, Governor Lee Jae-myung is quite popular." He continued, "Candidate Lee is from Yeyang, Andong, Gyeongbuk, but there was no Democratic Party candidate from the TK Daegu-Gyeongbuk region," adding, "If you go to the northern part of Gyeongbuk, there is even a subtle atmosphere welcoming Lee Jae-myung becoming president."

After mentioning Lee's strengths like this, Yoo explained that he is the only rival candidate.

He said, "Lee Jae-myung's sweet populist promises like basic housing, basic income, basic loans?this person is someone who gives away everything regardless of whether Korea collapses in 10, 20, or 30 years," and appealed, "I am confident I can persuade the people that only if I become the People Power Party candidate can we save Korea's economy and security." He added, "In terms of policies and pledges, I am truly very different from candidate Lee, almost polar opposites."

He also said, "That candidate has many weaknesses and is full of corruption and scandal allegations. To face and defeat that person, our candidate must be clean," and warned, "Otherwise, if we face that person and the public sees us as 'six of one, half a dozen of the other,' we will not be able to win the hearts of the decisive moderate, young, and metropolitan voters."

Yoo analyzed that his current support rate is on the rise but also defended the party's lackluster support within the party base. He said the "traitor" label is unfair. He stated, "They call me a traitor, saying I betrayed former President Park, but I have never betrayed the country, the people, or former President Park throughout my political career." He added, "I was the person who said the most unpleasant things to former President Park and begged those around her not to use such people, but she only chose those people," and said, "What I now regret and feel bitter about is why I couldn't stop those treacherous people wearing armbands and serving as ministers, prime ministers, deputy prime ministers, Blue House chiefs of staff, or senior secretaries who blocked the president's eyes and ears, even if I had to go in front of the Blue House and be pelted with stones."

On the same day, Yoo paid respects at the 10·16 Bu-Ma Democratic Uprising Monument and then visited party member councils of National Assembly members from Jung-gu, Yeongdo-gu, Haeundae-eul, Busanjin-gap, and Busanjin-eul in the Busan area. On the 17th, he plans to visit the party member councils of Bukgangseo-eul, Yangsan-gap, and Geumjeong-gu, followed by a party member meeting in Suyeong-gu. Prior to this, during the primary period, Yoo visited Daegu and Gyeongbuk (TK) several times to meet with party members and citizens.