Kim Gi-hyeon, Ahn Cheol-soo, Yoon Sang-hyun, Jo Kyung-tae
Former Representative Hwang Kyo-ahn Attends Gyeonggi New Year Meeting
Emphasizes 'Victory in General Election'... Also Mentions 'Rightward Shift'
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] On the 10th, the five candidates who declared their candidacy for the party leader position at the March 8 People Power Party (PPP) National Convention all gathered at the Gyeonggi Province Party New Year's Meeting. They expressed their determination to win the general election and appealed for the support of party members.
At the New Year's Meeting held on the 10th at the People Power Party Gyeonggi Province Office in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, all the leading candidates for the party leadership?Assemblymen Kim Ki-hyun, Yoon Sang-hyun, Ahn Cheol-soo, Cho Kyung-tae, and former leader Hwang Kyo-ahn?were present.
Although the event was named a New Year's 'Meeting,' the atmosphere felt like a 'preview of the National Convention.' Assemblyman Kim and former leader Hwang received enthusiastic responses from party members with their right-wing remarks. He said, "If you ask where the party's strength came from, it originated from the 2019 Gwanghwamun protests," adding, "I believe October 3, 2019, should be declared and commemorated as the Day of the People's Protest." The date Assemblyman Kim mentioned was when the Taegeukgi rallies demanding the resignation of former President Moon Jae-in were held at Gwanghwamun Square. He continued, "Our party and the presidential office are like a married couple. I hope we can harmonize our intentions and efforts as a couple and unite our strength to achieve a landslide victory in next year's general election."
Former leader Hwang said, "We have changed the regime, but if we lose it next time, we will be ruined. We could become a communist or socialist country," and urged, "Let's build a regime that lasts at least 30 years," among other remarks.
From "If We Lose the Regime, We Become a Communist Country" to "Removing Lee Jae-myung Is My New Year's Wish"
Assemblyman Yoon emphasized the 'capital region battle' again that day. He said, "The political landscape in the capital region is truly pitiful," adding, "The next general election is a battle for the capital region. It is not the heart, Yeongnam, fighting, but the hands and feet, the limbs?the capital region's fight."
Assemblyman Ahn Cheol-soo, representing Bundang-gu Gap in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, cited 'removing Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader' as one of his New Year's wishes, appealing to the Gyeonggi public sentiment by saying, "My constituency includes Daejang-dong, and my home is in Baekhyeon-dong. This issue needs to be resolved quickly so I can live comfortably." He also emphasized the 'all-out capital region battle,' agreeing with Assemblyman Yoon by saying, "If we win more than half of the 121 seats in the capital region, 70 seats, we can make 170 seats in total."
Assemblyman Cho Kyung-tae said, "President Yoon mentioned three major reforms, but if we look at them coldly, they are reforms that tighten the belts of the people," and argued, "If reforms only apply to the people, they will face strong resistance. Not only the people but politics must also be reformed." He then stated the need for the 'three abolitions reform': abolishing the proportional representation system, abolishing parliamentary immunity, and abolishing state subsidies to political parties.
Meanwhile, Na Kyung-won, vice-chair of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee and considered the 'most preferred candidate' among party members, did not attend the event. It is reported that Vice-Chair Na submitted her resignation on the same day.
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