Cheon Ha-ram "No Presidential Nomination Interference"... Four Distinct Policy Presentations by Four Ruling Party Leadership Candidates

Completion of Party Leader Candidates' First Policy Presentation
Hwang Kyo-ahn, Cho Kyung-tae, Yoon Sang-hyun Appeal for Party Member Support

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Youngwon Kim] The candidates running for the People Power Party leadership in the March 8 party convention made their first policy presentations on the 7th after passing the preliminary screening. Each candidate appealed for support from party members by presenting their key pledges.

Cheon Ha-ram, a candidate who declared his candidacy as the 'anti-Yoon' representative, said at the policy presentation held at the ASSA Building in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, in the morning, "I have prepared two secret strategies for reforming the People Power Party and winning the general election," adding, "The first strategy is the president's non-interference in candidate nominations."

Cheon Ha-ram "No Presidential Nomination Interference"... Four Distinct Policy Presentations by Four Ruling Party Leadership Candidates

On the 7th, at a broadcasting studio in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, the leadership of the People Power Party and the party representative candidates, including Emergency Committee Chairman Jeong Jin-seok and Floor Leader Joo Ho-young, are taking a commemorative photo at the 3rd party convention candidate vision presentation. From the left: Jo Kyung-tae, Yoon Sang-hyun, Hwang Kyo-ahn, Ahn Cheol-soo, Cheon Ha-ram, Kim Ki-hyun, party representative candidates; Jeong Jin-seok, Emergency Committee Chairman; Yoo Heung-soo, election management committee chairman of the party convention; Joo Ho-young, Floor Leader; Kim Seok-ki, Secretary General. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Candidate Cheon unfolded a scroll with Article 8 of the party constitution written in classical Chinese and said, "I will revise Article 8 of the party constitution," adding, "I will include a provision that party members who become president will not interfere in candidate nominations." He said, "Our people respect choices made for the people and party members rather than nominations made by those in power or their close associates," and added, "Such acts of making party members mere figureheads must never be repeated."

As his second strategy, he introduced the mandatory qualification exam for candidate nominations. Cheon emphasized, "We will not be a petty party that cannot choose Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, but will become the best party."

Hwang Kyo-ahn, a former Prime Minister and party leader during the Park Geun-hye administration, recalled, "I remember the time of President Park Geun-hye's impeachment," adding, "I endured with the desperate determination that the country must not collapse at any cost. Even conservative party lawmakers abandoned the party at that time."

On the 7th, at a broadcasting studio in Seoul, during the People Power Party's 3rd party convention candidate vision presentation, party leaders including Emergency Committee Chairman Jeong Jin-seok and Floor Leader Joo Ho-young, as well as candidate representatives Kim Ki-hyun, Ahn Cheol-soo, Yoon Sang-hyun, Cho Kyung-tae, Cheon Ha-ram, and Hwang Kyo-ahn, are performing the national ceremony. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Candidate Hwang said, "Fortunately, we were able to transfer power with both security and the economy in better condition," adding, "I can well imagine how much difficulty President Yoon Seok-yeol must be feeling from the Democratic Party's tyranny. It reminds me of the pain during my time as acting president."

He said, "Right after I joined the party, the approval rating was 10%, but it rose sharply to over 20% immediately after I joined, and eventually reached 35%," adding, "I will nominate those who have devoted themselves to the party."

Jo Kyung-tae, who introduced himself as the 'Busan Seagull,' highlighted that he became a five-term lawmaker at the age of 52 and revealed a photo of himself taking off his upper garment. Candidate Jo said, "I will practice transparent politics with nothing to hide," adding, "I really like the word 'reform.' True reform is about making the people happy. My belief is that politicians become poor and the people become rich, like former President Park Chung-hee."

To this end, he declared that he would abolish the proportional representation system, reduce the number of lawmakers, and finally abolish party state subsidies.

Yoon Sang-hyun, who emphasized 'innovation,' stated that the People Power Party must become one team to win in the metropolitan area in the general election. He stressed that he is the right person to lead the one team.

Candidate Yoon said, "Is there anyone who has fought as desperately as I have in the metropolitan area?" adding, "Why have they positioned Lee Jae-myung and Floor Leader Park Hong-geun like this? Isn't it to fight again in the metropolitan area next year?" He continued, "We must place warriors at the forefront. I can say without a doubt that I, Yoon Sang-hyun, am that warrior," emphasizing, "People Power Party assemble, let's unite People Power Party!"