Hong "I won't forgive if told who to vote for"... Yoon's side "Hong demands ARS identity verification, obstructing elderly voting"

Intense 'Gissawoom' Heats Up Ahead of Presidential Candidate Voting

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Ahead of the People Power Party presidential candidate primary, the power struggle between Assemblyman Hong Jun-pyo and former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's camp is intensifying. Assemblyman Hong has demanded neutrality from party members. Former Prosecutor General Yoon's camp raised issues regarding the party member ARS voting authentication procedure requested by Assemblyman Hong's camp.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 27th, Assemblyman Hong warned the party members who joined former Prosecutor General Yoon's camp at the jp Hope Camp Gangwon Election Committee appointment ceremony held at the People Power Party Gangwon Provincial Party.

He said, "In August, most of the National Assembly members lined up behind Yoon Seok-yeol as the sole alternative for regime change, and now they cannot withdraw," adding, "Those who lined up en masse cannot step back, so they are reluctantly staying, but when the district party tells them to vote for candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, the backlash is severe." He continued, "A National Assembly member telling people who to vote for is not worthy of being a National Assembly member. Voting should be done autonomously by party members," and warned, "I will not forgive such National Assembly members."

Assemblyman Hong said, "The owner of the party is the party members," and "National Assembly members are just passing guests," adding, "If a National Assembly member tries to order who to vote for, I will not forgive that."

This was a warning against organized voting by former Prosecutor General Yoon's camp, which has incorporated a large number of People Power Party assembly members and party branch chairpersons.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former Prosecutor General Yoon's side raised issues with Assemblyman Hong's camp's demand to introduce an identity verification procedure during the party member ARS voting survey.

Joo Ho-young, a People Power Party assemblyman and co-chief of former Prosecutor General Yoon's campaign, said at a press conference held at the National Assembly, "On the 25th, Hong's camp sent an official letter to the Election Commission demanding an identity verification procedure for telephone ARS voting," and claimed, "It seems intended to complicate the ARS voting process, making it difficult for elderly party members unfamiliar with it to vote, thereby lowering voter turnout."

Assemblyman Joo said, "Telephone ARS voting calls the pre-registered responsible party member's phone number to verify party membership before proceeding with the voting process. Therefore, there is no need to introduce an additional identity verification procedure," adding, "During the second round of voting, candidate Hong himself agreed to the Election Commission's voting rules, and no one raised objections."