Park Hong-geun "Already a total failure due to Yoon's intervention"
Park Sung-joon "Accusing own party members of pro-communism... bizarre"
Justice Party "A cauldron of madness" harshly criticizes
[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The Democratic Party of Korea harshly criticized the ruling People Power Party's March 8 party convention, which is showing signs of overheating, calling it a "melodrama."
On the 7th, at a broadcasting studio in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, the leadership of the People Power Party and the party representative candidates 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 Response 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 National Assembly Press Photographers Group
On the 7th, Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, criticized at a floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly in the morning, saying, "With the president's relentless intervention, the People Power Party's convention already seems to be a complete failure."
Park said, "The public's reaction to the People Power Party's convention is, 'I've never seen such a convention in my life,'" adding, "Once again, President Yoon Seok-yeol directly targeted candidate Ahn Cheol-soo." He condemned it as "the height of excessive rudeness," calling him "a disruptor and enemy of state administration." He pointed out, "It's very chilling."
He continued, "The presidential office leaks the president's remarks to the media, the media writes about it, and the pro-Yoon faction echoes it?this 'melodramatic play' is shaking the People Power Party's convention," adding, "In response to criticism of presidential intervention, the presidential office only offers the laughable excuse that the president is the party's No. 1 member who pays 3 million won monthly in dues and is merely expressing his opinion as a member."
Park said, "It is nothing but a brawl over 'Yoon's mind,'" adding, "Even within the ruling party, there are sighs that this is not a convention but a 'division convention.' The public feels fear toward Yoon Seok-yeol's style of governance, which destroys anyone who is not on his side by any means necessary." He emphasized, "The people struggling with their livelihoods find the People Power Party's terrifying melodramatic convention extremely disgraceful. What President Yoon should be tackling now is not the 'anti-Yoon' faction but the people's livelihoods and prices."
On the same day, Park Sung-jun, the Democratic Party spokesperson, also issued a statement, criticizing, "Is the ruling party's convention a survival game for eliminating political opponents?" and said, "It is pathetic from the public's perspective."
Spokesperson Park said, "Is it because the convention started with the expulsion of former leader Lee Jun-seok? With Yoo Seung-min, Na Kyung-won, and now Ahn Cheol-soo, the People Power Party's convention seems to have become a survival game to eliminate the anti-Yoon faction."
He also said, "Rep. Lee Cheol-gyu called Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo 'someone who respects communist Shin Young-bok,' and President Yoon reportedly said, 'I was greatly shocked. If I had known earlier, I would not have unified,'" adding, "To see colorism and anti-communist witch hunts appear in a 21st-century government and ruling party convention is a melodrama too painful to watch with open eyes."
Spokesperson Park said, "Although the ruling party boasts a history and tradition of anti-communist witch hunts, it seems unprecedented to try to expel one's own party members by labeling them as communists. Truly a bizarre ruling party." He continued, "They verbally proclaim liberal democracy, but their behavior is more backward than presidents during the past party chairmanship era, making the state of the country deplorable," criticizing, "While the government and ruling party are engrossed in this melodramatic survival drama, who will protect the economy and people's livelihoods?"
On the 7th, at a broadcasting studio in Seoul, candidates Kim Ki-hyun and Ahn Cheol-soo are having a conversation during the People Power Party's 3rd party convention candidate vision presentation. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group
The Justice Party also joined the chorus of criticism. Lee Jae-rang, spokesperson for the Justice Party, said in a briefing the day before, "President Yoon's criticism not to drag the president into this is inconsistent," adding, "Has there ever been a candidate who did not drag the president into the convention until now? Among them, the candidate who brought in the president the most is Kim Ki-hyun."
Spokesperson Lee said, "They stayed silent until now, but now the intention to kill candidate Ahn is so transparent," adding, "At this point, it is madness."
He continued, "The president is acting as a sniper targeting a specific candidate, making him a clown," adding, "Ultimately, this is an expression of the will to turn the People Power Party into an extension office of the presidential office in Yeouido, shamelessly damaging 'party democracy.'" He then admonished President Yoon, saying, "Mr. President, please come to your senses. Democracy is not like that."
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