Democratic Party's Kang Hoon-sik Withdraws from Party Leader Race... "I Will Devotedly Support Whoever Wins"

Emergency Press Conference Held at the National Assembly on the Afternoon of the 15th

Kang Hoon-sik, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, appeals for support from party members at the joint speech meeting of the Democratic Party's presidential and supreme council candidates held on the 14th at the CJB Convention Center in Cheongju, Chungbuk. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Bo-ryeong] Kang Hoon-sik, a candidate for the leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea, withdrew from the race on the 15th.

On the same day, Kang held an emergency press conference at the National Assembly and stated, "I am stopping my challenge for the party leader today."

He continued, "I wanted to restore the basics and common sense within us that had collapsed and show the public a useful Democratic Party again. I wanted to straighten my posture and become the party leader who creates a Democratic Party that beats with passion again," adding, "Now, I will leave that task to the two candidates (Lee Jae-myung and Park Yong-jin) and return as a member to find a new path."

Kang also said, "Although my challenge for the party leader ends here, the efforts and steps to make our Democratic Party a broader and stronger party, a younger and more competent ruling party, and an integrated party where diversity breathes and differences coexist must continue more actively and intensely," emphasizing, "No matter who becomes the party leader, I will devotedly support from the lowest position so that we can create such a passionate Democratic Party together."