An "Jeondae can't go like this"
Cheon "Yun Hae-gwan diminishes the president"
Hwang "Internal criticism and pandering to Yun's heart are all problems"
[Asia Economy reporters Hyunju Lee and Youngwon Kim] As the People Power Party's leadership race intensifies, the rivalry between the 'two leading candidates' has escalated, drawing attention to whether Cheon Haram, former chairman of the Suncheon Gap district party committee and an ally of Lee Jun-seok, can shake up the election landscape by officially declaring his candidacy.
Ahn Cheol-soo, a People Power Party lawmaker registered as a candidate for the party representative in the March 8 party convention, held an emergency press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall on the 3rd, stating, “Party members have expressed that the ongoing collective infighting within the party has gone too far,” and added, “The party convention should not proceed in this manner.”
This was a response to the relentless verbal attacks from pro-Yoon faction lawmakers, who have repeatedly targeted him with extreme slurs such as ‘fake Yoon supporter’ and ‘Na Kyung-won case.’ Pro-Yoon lawmaker Lee Cheol-gyu also criticized Ahn in a radio interview that day, saying, “It is wrong to make party members believe that the president supports candidate Ahn and that they have a good communication relationship.”
Ahn Cheol-soo, a candidate for the People Power Party leadership, is entering the press conference room at the National Assembly on the 3rd to hold a press conference related to the party convention. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
Ahn said, “The competition should not be about flaunting friendships and factions within the party, but about presenting policies and visions for the Republic of Korea,” emphasizing, “It should be a competition to add strength to President Yoon Seok-yeol, not a competition to grab Yoon’s support. It should be a competition where those who united for regime change come together again, not scatter.”
Regarding a senior presidential office official’s remark that ‘Yoon’s support is not for Ahn,’ he said, “That was not a statement made directly by President Yoon, was it? During party primaries, some support one candidate and others support another. I take it in that sense.”
On the same day, Cheon Haram officially declared his candidacy for party representative. Cheon, who served as a member of the People Power Party Innovation Committee, is evaluated as capable of attracting votes from both the Lee Jun-seok and Yoo Seung-min factions. It is anticipated that Attorney Cheon will influence the votes of the non-pro-Yoon faction, centrists, and youth voters within the party. Political commentator Park Sang-byeong said, “A significant portion of the non-pro-Yoon and youth votes will go to Attorney Cheon. If that happens, it will be difficult for lawmakers Ahn Cheol-soo and Kim Ki-hyun to secure a majority.”
Cheon Haram: “No to Yoon Support-Grabbing Competition” Officially Enters Party Representative Race
Cheon held a press conference that day and stated, “I will become the party representative who leads the People Power Party, which is regressing and retreating into the past, forward toward the future.”
He strongly criticized the ‘Yoon support-grabbing’ competition. He said, “The president, who left behind the famous saying ‘I do not pledge loyalty to a person,’ is now subject to a laughable loyalty competition. Yoon support-grabbing is the main culprit eroding the support and trust of both the president and the People Power Party,” adding, “If the People Power Party fails to secure a majority in the general election, or even if it wins the election by luck thanks to Lee Jae-myung without structural reform, a lack of public trust will still result in a nominal government.”
He pointed out, “The problem is that the current mainstream, pro-Yoon, and self-proclaimed Yoon core supporters are leading the destruction of public trust in the government and ruling party,” and criticized, “The pro-Yoon faction and Yoon core supporters are diminishing the president.”
He then said, “Ultimately, the treacherous elements ruining the party and Korean politics must no longer be allowed to cling to the People Power Party,” proposing ‘bottom-up candidate nomination’ and a ‘mid-term evaluation system for lawmakers’ as pledges.
Former Future United Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn also held a press conference that day to officially announce his candidacy. Hwang said, “Internal backstabbing is a problem, but if the party leader becomes a blind follower of the president, that is also a problem,” and added, “If ‘Yoon support-grabbing’ becomes the first virtue of his candidacy, can he truly be called a leader?” targeting lawmakers Kim and Ahn, who are ranked first and second in party representative opinion polls.
Inside and outside the party, there is speculation that Attorney Cheon’s candidacy amid the ‘Yoon support-grabbing’ controversy will influence party members’ votes. Political commentator Park Sang-byeong said, “A significant portion of the non-pro-Yoon and youth votes will go to Attorney Cheon. If that happens, it will be difficult for lawmakers Ahn Cheol-soo and Kim Ki-hyun to secure a majority.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
