Kim Ki-hyun and Ahn Cheol-soo: "High Voter Turnout Works in My Favor"

Kim "Majority Vote in First Round is the Goal"
Ahn "Party Leader Must Be Confirmed on the 12th"

On the 5th, the two leading candidates for the People Power Party's March 8 leadership election, Kim Ki-hyun and Ahn Cheol-soo, stated that a high voter turnout in the party convention would be advantageous to themselves respectively.

Candidate Kim said in a meeting with reporters after the 'YPT Youth Policy Contest' event held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, "The higher the voter turnout, the more advantageous it will naturally be for Kim Ki-hyun," and explained, "I believe the party members' sentiment has exploded in response to the convention being turned into a mudslinging contest or consistently negative campaign, as if in collusion with the Democratic Party of Korea."

He continued, "Party members are judging that actively supporting Kim Ki-hyun, who will establish the party on stable and firm leadership, is necessary for the party to achieve reform amid stability, and this is reflected in the voter turnout."

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

At the same time, candidate Ahn also gave a similar explanation. At a press conference held at the National Assembly that day, when asked why a high voter turnout would benefit him more than candidate Chun Ha-ram, Ahn replied, "Usually, when voter turnout is low, most votes are likely to be mobilized votes. Now, the power of mobilized voting is already weakening, and I think the general party sentiment, the love for the party, and the desire to win next year's general election are being reflected." He added, "In terms of reform, there are some similarities and differences with candidate Chun, but I think Chun's supporters will vote for me from the first round since I have a higher chance of winning."

Ahn introduced, "The voter turnout on the first day reached 35%. The collective intelligence of party members' hearts was revealed through the vote," and said, "I thought there were four intentions of the party members." He said, "First, the victory in the last presidential election was not achieved by the president and a few people alone. It was the result of all of us uniting against the failures of the Moon Jae-in administration." He continued, "Second, the presidential office and a few people do not respect the party and its members and try to create a vertical relationship. Party members feel insulted."

He added, "Third, why are those who contributed to the presidential election being treated as enemies and pushed out? Hostility toward symbols of party expansion is neither politically ethical nor conducive to winning the general election," and "Fourth, our urgent goal now is to win the general election. We must choose the most suitable person for this task." He interpreted, "The anger of the majority of party members who had been silent is now revealed through the high voter turnout."

The two candidates had differing opinions on the runoff vote. Candidate Kim said that day, "I have aimed for a majority in the first round and will continue to do so." On the other hand, candidate Ahn said, "The party leader should be confirmed not on the 8th but on the 12th," and "A debate between candidate Kim Ki-hyun and me on March 9 must take place."