An and Hwang Join Hands for "Kim Ki-hyun Resignation"... Kim Calls It a Political Farce (Summary)

Ahn Cheol-soo and Hwang Kyo-ahn Joint Press Conference, Attacking Kim Ki-hyun
Cheon Ha-ram "Agree with Both Candidates' Intentions but Must Stay Calm"

On the 7th, a day before the People Power Party's leadership election, candidates Ahn Cheol-soo and Hwang Kyo-ahn held a joint press conference urging candidate Kim Ki-hyun to withdraw. In response, Kim's camp stated that it was a "farce created by political interests."

Candidates Ahn and Hwang fiercely attacked over the 'Kim Ki-hyun Ulsan land suspicion' and the 'presidential office administrator's interference in the leadership election,' saying, "This is the final ultimatum. (Candidate Kim) should withdraw immediately today." They added, "If he does not withdraw, we will fight together with all the evidence regarding the illegal election activities during this leadership election and the presidential office administrator's interference." Candidate Ahn emphasized, "The truth must be revealed. That alone is the way to resolve party division and lead next year's general election to victory."

People Power Party's Ahn Cheol-soo and Hwang Kyo-ahn, candidates for party leader, are holding a joint press conference on the 7th at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul, regarding the controversy over the "Presidential Office administrative officer group chat supporting Kim Ki-hyun." Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Candidate Kim's 'Ulsan land speculation suspicion' was raised by candidate Hwang during the party leader candidate TV debate on the 15th of last month. Candidate Hwang claimed that the KTX Ulsan Station route was changed from the original plan to pass through land owned by candidate Kim, resulting in Kim gaining 1,800 times the market price difference. In response, candidate Kim said, "If true, I will retire from politics," and directly requested an investigation from the National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters. On the same day, candidate Ahn filed a complaint with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) against Kang Seung-gyu, the senior administrator of civil society at the presidential office, regarding suspicions of election interference in the leadership election.

When asked if he would accept the results if candidate Kim won in the first or final round of voting, candidate Ahn replied, "I will judge after the investigation results come out." Candidate Hwang said, "The most important thing in this process is to save the party," adding, "I will take wise measures to save the party."

In response, Kim's camp senior spokesperson Kim Si-gwan issued a statement calling it a "shocking remark that is practically a declaration of non-acceptance of the primary results." He said, "The majority of party members have already voted, and the announcement of the results is just a day away," adding, "For the two candidates to unite because their chances have dimmed and declare they will not even listen to the party members' orders is stubbornness and autocracy that damages the spirit of the primary, which is the flower of democracy."

He also refuted the two candidates' claims that Kim becoming party leader would burden the president due to various suspicions. Senior spokesperson Kim wrote, "In fact, the presidential office is suffering from baseless slanders and black propaganda by the two candidates. Everyone knows that it is candidate Ahn who keeps dragging the president into the leadership election." He continued, "The 1 million party members are on alert, wondering if Ahn, known as the 'party crusher,' and Hwang, who suffered the worst defeat in a conservative party, are joining hands to divide the People Power Party again and push it toward a crushing defeat in the general election. Stop internal sabotage immediately."

Candidate Chun Ha-ram sent a message saying, "I sympathize with the intentions of the two candidates, but we must remain calm." On the same day, candidate Chun wrote on Facebook, "While the senior administrator of the presidential office's election interference and candidate Kim Ki-hyun's issues must be clearly pointed out, we must not go toward rejecting the leadership election or violent struggle."

Candidate Chun added, "It takes time to ascertain the truth, and our party members are wise," and said, "I will defeat candidate Kim Ki-hyun in the runoff, become party leader, establish fairness and common sense, and clearly ascertain the truth."