First Joint Speech Meeting of the Democratic Party Convention... About 600 Supporters 'Bustling'

Supporters Gather 30 Minutes Before Start
'Kim Gi-hyeon' Signs Most Visible
Top Officials Cheer More for 'Orthodoxy' Than 'Reform'↑

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] "I love you, Kim Gi-hyeon!" "Party leader! Ahn Cheol-soo!"

On the 13th, the first joint speech meeting of the People Power Party's March 8 party convention candidates was held. The Jeju Pacific Hotel, the venue for the speech meeting, was crowded with supporters to the extent that police were deployed 30 minutes before the start to maintain order.

Supporters lined up from the hotel entrance, beating drums and gongs while continuously shouting the names of their preferred candidates. Signs bearing the names of party leader candidates such as 'Eternal Party Member Kim Gi-hyeon,' 'Ahn Cheol-soo who sweats for party members,' and 'Steadfast Hwang Kyo-ahn' were prominently raised above heads. They also armed themselves with cheering props symbolizing the People Power Party, such as red caps, baseball jackets, headbands, and masks, and enthusiastically cheered. The candidates gathered in one place mingled with party members on the stairs and at the entrance, engaging in skinship.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

'Kim Gi-hyeon' Support Signs Most Visible

The interior, prepared with about 600 seats, was full and crowded with party members standing to watch the speech meeting. Although there were various supporters evenly distributed up to the Supreme Council members, signs with Kim Gi-hyeon's name were the most visible. As the slogans of party leader supporters mixed and caused confusion inside, the moderator tried to mediate but could not calm the enthusiasm. When some supporters chanted "Kim Gi-hyeon!" others shouted "Ahn Cheol-soo!" in turn, creating an alternating chant situation.

During the party leader candidates' speeches, which were held last, some supporters shouted 'Kim Gi-hyeon' during other candidates' speech times, prompting the moderator to request restraint. When candidate Ahn said, "I dare to ask you all, what kind of party leader do you want?" loud voices such as "Kim Gi-hyeon" echoed inside. When asked about this during a meeting with reporters after his speech, candidate Ahn replied, "I did not hear it."

In the party convention vote, if no candidate wins a majority, a runoff vote is held between the top two candidates, and a tense exchange occurred between supporters of Kim and Ahn, who are considered the two leading candidates. When supporters beat drums to cheer during Kim's speech, a man supporting Ahn raised his voice, saying, "Drums are only to be played outdoors, not indoors. Why are you playing them?" and "Play fair." Supporters watching this told them to "go home and fight," trying to stop the situation.

Supreme Council Members, Jeju Mind Prefers 'Orthodoxy' Over 'Reform'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

During the policy presentations by youth Supreme Council and Supreme Council candidates that day, candidates classified as so-called 'pro-Yoon faction' orthodox conservatives received greater support than those advocating 'reform.'

When Tae Young-ho, the only incumbent district lawmaker running for Supreme Council, took the stage, party members holding signs supporting Kim Gi-hyeon raised their arms in response. During the speech of Kim Byung-min, who served as a spokesperson in President Yoon's presidential campaign, loud cheers and applause continued. Candidates Kim Jae-won and Cho Soo-jin introduced Jeju dialect and their connections to Jeju, drawing laughter from attendees.

Among youth Supreme Council candidates, when it was Jang Ye-chan's turn, cheers and shouts of "Jang Ye-chan" rang out from the moment a pre-recorded video was shown. Some supporters sitting stood up to cheer for him. Supporters also applauded and responded to empathetic remarks during other candidates' speeches.

The so-called 'four reform candidates'?Cheon Ha-ram, Heo Eun-ah, Kim Yong-tae, and Lee Ki-in?who attracted attention by passing all cutoffs, delivered their speeches in a relatively calm atmosphere that day. Few signs were seen above their heads during their presentations. After her speech, candidate Heo Eun-ah told reporters, "The internal atmosphere is naturally discouraging because the names of those with many organizations and organizational votes are called out a lot," but added, "Seeing party members who applaud the promises we must make regardless of whom they support makes me think there will be good results in the future."