Hwang Launches Negative Offensive Against Everyone... Possibility of An and Cheon Itaewon Meeting

Hwang Kyo-ahn "Kim, Power-type Local Corruption" Direct Hit
Kim Ki-hyun "Trying to Undermine Hwang's Votes"
Cheon Ha-ram "Considering Recovery of An and Itaewon Commercial Area Together"

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Boryeong Geum] At the joint speech event for the People Power Party's March 8 party convention, candidate Hwang Kyo-ahn is rallying party members through a so-called 'all-out criticism' strategy. On this day, rumors of an alliance between candidates Ahn Cheol-soo and Cheon Ha-ram also surfaced.

Candidate Hwang Kyo-ahn, at the 3rd party convention joint speech for Daejeon, Sejong, Chungbuk, and Chungnam held at Daejeon University Mac Center on the 21st, said, "The candidates are excellent, but none of them are yet party leader," while pointing out each candidate's weaknesses.

Hwang said, "Candidate Kim Ki-hyun has serious power-based local corruption," adding, "He changed a perfectly fine road into land he owns and made it crooked." He continued, "No matter how much he tries to excuse it, the public sentiment will never tolerate it," emphasizing, "Lee Jae-myung will not become the leader of the Democratic Party, right? If he becomes party leader like this, next year's general election is a guaranteed defeat."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He went on to say, "Candidate Ahn Cheol-soo is a 'cuckoo' candidate," and "Every party he builds has collapsed." He questioned, "Can you trust someone who praised Shin Young-bok and opposed the THAAD deployment?" and concluded, "He is not suitable now."

Regarding candidate Cheon Ha-ram, he said, "He disparaged former President Park Chung-hee and praised former President Kim Dae-jung," adding, "He will become the Democratic Party's second fiddle."

Candidate Kim Ki-hyun showed discomfort at Hwang's negative strategy on the same day. In his speech, Kim said, "This kind of 'say whatever you want' black propaganda only makes things messy, and the only ones who benefit are the Democratic Party," criticizing, "Words are the soul of a person. Conservatives value dignity."

Kim also directly responded to reporters, saying, "It seems some think that by eating into Kim Ki-hyun's votes, they can gain their own, but they will realize that such shallow tactics cannot steal the hearts of our party members."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, at this debate, candidates Cheon and Ahn, who refrained from direct negativity, seem to be forming an alliance.

After the joint speech, candidate Cheon told reporters, "I made a proposal to candidate Ahn," explaining, "The Cheon-Ah Yongin team purchased gift certificates related to the recovery of the Itaewon commercial district, and within this week, we plan to visit Itaewon to use the gift certificates and hold a press conference to discuss various ideas for revitalizing the Itaewon commercial area."

He added, "I suggested it would be good if candidate Ahn joined, and I bought about 100,000 won worth, but considering Ahn's assets, he should buy about 1,000,000 won worth," laughing heartily, and said, "If possible, we plan to visit Itaewon during this week." He also mentioned that the schedule will be announced later.

In the TV debate held the previous day, candidate Ahn said he had become 'one team' with candidate Cheon, and Cheon responded, "I hope we can compete in good faith while also uniting where we need to."