Kim Ki-hyun and Na Kyung-won Join Hands to Rally 'Conservative Votes'
At the Same Time, Ahn Holds Party Member Meeting in Chungbuk
Controversy Over Leak of Survey Results Showing 'Cutoff Leader Kim Ki-hyun'
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] At the People Power Party's March 8 party convention, the so-called 'Pro-Yoon (Yoon Seok-yeol) faction' candidates for party leadership all gathered at a conservative group event on the 9th. Candidates Kim Ki-hyun and former lawmaker Na Kyung-won, who effectively formalized their alliance on the 7th, also attended an official event together for the first time that day. Candidate Ahn Cheol-soo did not attend this event and met with party members in Goesan-gun, Chungbuk.
At the 'New Public Sentiment National Rally' held on the 9th in Mapo-gu, Seoul, candidates Kim and former lawmaker Na, along with candidate Yoon Sang-hyun, attended. Candidates Lee Man-hee, Park Sung-joong, and Lee Yong, who are running for Supreme Council member, also visited the venue. Most of them are classified as 'Pro-Yoon,' having closely supported President Yoon during the presidential election.
At the first meeting since former lawmaker Na and candidate Kim officially confirmed their support on the 7th, the two shared a warm atmosphere, smiling and shaking hands. When they clasped hands and raised them high in greeting, attendees inside the venue cheered and chanted "Kim Ki-hyun, Na Kyung-won."
Candidate Kim said, "If the party is to move as one team, those who have continuously led the traditional conservative right and sacrificed their all to build today's proud People Power Party, like our representative Na Kyung-won, must take the lead." He added, "A few days ago, we met and agreed to join hands for the success of our Yoon government and victory in next year's general election."
Former lawmaker Na said, "After witnessing the unprecedented impeachment decision against a Cabinet member yesterday, I thought we really need to unite tightly now," adding, "Many respected candidates for party leader and Supreme Council member have come, and I will work together with you to cooperate well with the President."
After the event, former lawmaker Na told reporters, "I thought it was time to put aside personal thoughts for the greater cause of the success of the Yoon Seok-yeol government and victory in the general election," and "I thought we should go together for the greater cause beyond petty interests, the success of the Yoon Seok-yeol government and the general election victory." This effectively confirmed her support for candidate Kim. When asked about the change in her stance from when she declared she would not run and said she would have no role in the party convention, she replied, "You can say that various political situations have heightened the sense of crisis."
Candidate Ahn did not attend the event that day. Meeting with reporters after a party member meeting held simultaneously in Goesan-gun, he said, "There may be talk of various alliances among candidates, but the real core is to elect a party leader for the general election," adding, "Whoever forms an alliance with whom and who gains an advantage is not the core issue."
Regarding Party Member Poll Leak, Ahn and Kim Say "Election Commission Should Make a Statement"
Meanwhile, Ahn's camp raised objections to the party election commission regarding reports that candidate Kim ranked first in the interim results of the party member opinion poll conducted for the cutoff.
The People Power Party has been conducting a cutoff opinion poll over two days starting the day before to narrow down the four candidates advancing to the main race, with the final results to be announced on the 10th. The article cited a 'People Power Party official' saying, "It seems candidate Kim Ki-hyun did not reach 50% of the vote in the first day's poll results."
Lee Jong-chul, chief spokesperson for Ahn's campaign, said, "An article quoting an anonymous party official and written by an anonymous reporter, with the intent to influence the poll and violating the duty of election neutrality, is a serious crime disguised as media coverage," and demanded "immediate expulsion measures and a statement on the matter." Candidate Ahn also said, "Knowing the ongoing poll results itself indicates there is a problem with the poll."
Kim Si-gwan, chief spokesperson for candidate Kim's camp, also issued a statement urging the election commission to clarify its position promptly. Kim said, "Some have raised suspicions that the source of the report is someone related to candidate Kim," adding, "Our camp clearly states we have no involvement. We hope these baseless allegations are not intended to tarnish candidate Kim's campaign."
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