Assemblyman Yeo, MBC Radio Interview
Shin Pyeong, a lawyer known as "President Yoon Seok-yeol's mentor," recently raised the theory of President Yoon's "new party formation" based on a ruling party's "general election defeat" opinion poll, but later admitted it was not true and apologized. Meanwhile, Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, stated that the general election crisis theory is true.
On the 8th, Ha said on MBC's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" that "If Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is not present, then moderate-oriented figures like former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon or Kim Boo-kyum will take charge as emergency committee chairs and lead the election, and in that case, Busan will also be quite at risk."
Earlier, Lawyer Shin cited an internal party opinion poll to claim the ruling party would suffer a crushing defeat in next year's general election. However, when the party clarified that no such poll had been conducted, he acknowledged the misinformation and apologized.
Nonetheless, Rep. Ha emphasized Shin's "general election crisis theory," saying, "There was the pro-Park controversy in the 2016 general election. Our party currently shows no expansion capability at all, and because of such circumstances, the nationwide election is at risk."
However, he pointed out that the new party formation theory lacks basis. Ha said, "It makes no sense to form a new party other than the People Power Party," adding, "It's complete fiction. While it is possible that we recruit new figures and politically rejuvenate our party, the idea that the People Power Party disappears and we are absorbed into another party is fiction."
Rep. Ha raised his voice that even if Lawyer Shin's prediction is not true, a sense of crisis should be felt for next year's general election. He said, "In fact, the general election is a midterm evaluation of the president," adding, "How the Yoon Seok-yeol administration performs is the most important, and the Yoon administration must pursue a moderate expansionist administration. The party must also move in that direction."
Regarding President Yoon's approval rating remaining in the low 30% range, he said, "It will definitely be a crushing defeat," and warned that if the Democratic Party reorganizes with moderate figures, the Yoon administration could end up as a "plant government." He added, "Anyway, the party is paying a lot of attention to youth expansion, but old voices keep emerging and overshadowing it," emphasizing, "We must ensure that youth can purely move toward the center and that politics can gain trust."
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