People Power Party March 8 National Convention
10 Candidates for Supreme Council Member 'Soaring'
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The enthusiasm for running in the People Power Party's March 8 party leadership election is heating up. With Representative Lee Man-hee and former Supreme Council member Kim Yong-tae officially announcing their candidacies for the Supreme Council on the 31st, the number of candidates has exceeded 10.
On the morning of the same day, Representative Lee held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office and declared his candidacy for the Supreme Council election, saying, "If the victory in the last presidential election was a regime change, next year's general election victory will be the success of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration," and added, "I will fulfill the responsibility of ensuring the success of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, not just creating the regime."
Representative Lee emphasized his history of standing up to the opposition during the Fast Track incident. He said, "Under the harsh Moon Jae-in administration, I took the lead in uncovering the truth behind the Druking comment manipulation scandal, and as the floor spokesperson, I was at the forefront of exposing the true face of the Democratic Party administration that went against democracy during the Fast Track incident," and pledged, "A showdown with the opposition is inevitable. I will be the vanguard in stopping the Democratic Party's tyranny."
Former Supreme Council member Kim also announced his candidacy at a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office following Representative Lee.
He said, "I am running for the People Power Party Supreme Council to reform the nomination conflicts that were carried out under the influence of past powers and to establish party democracy through bottom-up nominations," adding, "Now, all one million responsible party members and the public are the party's nomination management committee chairperson."
Regarding why he is running as a general Supreme Council member rather than a youth Supreme Council member, he explained, "I gained a lot of experience and benefited from the party as a youth Supreme Council member last time," and added, "I thought it was right to give the opportunity to young people who dream of different politics rather than enjoying such opportunities myself."
With Representative Lee and former Supreme Council member Kim throwing their hats into the ring on this day, the number of candidates for both inside and outside the National Assembly has increased by one each. Previously, inside the National Assembly, Representatives Tae Young-ho, Ji Sung-ho, and Park Sung-joong had officially declared their candidacies, while outside the National Assembly, former Supreme Council members Kim Jae-won and Jung Mi-kyung, Chairman of the Youth Foundation Jang Ye-chan, former President of the Korea Junior Chamber Kim Ga-ram, and lawyer Kim Young-ho have also officially announced their candidacies. Representative Heo Eun-ah has also decided to run for the Supreme Council and is currently coordinating the date for an official press conference.
"I Do Not Agree with the 'Pro-Yoon vs. Anti-Yoon' Division"
Regarding the perception that Representative Lee Man-hee is 'Pro-Yoon' and former Supreme Council member Kim Yong-tae is 'Anti-Yoon,' both candidates denied this characterization.
After the press conference, Representative Lee responded to the question, "Isn't the Supreme Council election turning into a Pro-Yoon vs. Anti-Yoon battle?" by saying, "If you are a member or party member of the People Power Party, I think it is difficult to divide people into Pro-Yoon and Anti-Yoon," and added, "Among party comrades, who would not want the success of the Yoon Seok-yeol government?"
Former Supreme Council member Kim also responded to the question, "Some media outlets mention you as a leading figure of the Anti-Yoon faction," by saying, "I do not agree with being Anti-Yoon. The frame dividing Pro-Yoon and Anti-Yoon is not important," and added, "The success of President Yoon is the success of the party, and the failure of President Yoon is the failure of the party."
However, former Supreme Council member Kim said, "I do not think the president has intervened in party affairs, but some 'Yoon core insiders' are using the president's intentions to pursue their own politics," and added, "I think this is blocking the eyes and ears of party members and the public and inciting them."
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