Jeong Cheong-rae: "Ha Tae-kyung is weak... Han Dong-hoon should come to Mapo-eul"

"Public Sentiment Turbulent Over O Se-hoon's Sangam Waste Incineration Plant"
"The Tragedy of Non-Ethics"

Ha Tae-kyung, a three-term member of the People Power Party, has officially declared his candidacy for Seoul, raising the possibility of a spoiler candidate nomination in Mapo-eul, the constituency of Jeong Cheong-rae of the Democratic Party of Korea. In response, Jeong said, "Ha is a weak candidate," urging Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon to run in Mapo-eul.

On the 10th, Jeong said on KBS's "Choi Kyung-young's Strongest Current Affairs," "If he comes to my district, I should welcome him as a guest, but I think Ha is somewhat weak."

Jeong Cheong-rae, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, and others are attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the single-person protest tent in front of the National Assembly main building on the 11th. Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, did not attend the Supreme Council meeting on the 12th day of his hunger strike due to health deterioration. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the 7th, Ha held a press conference at the National Assembly and announced, "I will leave my hometown Haeundae next year and challenge myself in Seoul in the general election." He indicated his intention to run in Seoul, a tough district, leaving behind Busan Haeundae Gap, where he served three terms. The possibility of a spoiler candidate nomination in Mapo-eul is also being discussed.

Jeong said, "Still, I think a major ruling party presidential candidate like Minister Han should come to ignite my enthusiasm," adding, "Mapo-eul will not be a tough district but a death zone."

He continued, "Go to places like Sangam-dong and Seongsan 2-dong. Mayor Oh Se-hoon has dropped additional bombs by adding a waste incineration plant in Sangam, Mapo, and all kinds of placards are posted. Public sentiment against the People Power Party is very hostile. Moreover, would anyone want to come there?"

When asked by the host about Ha's true intentions, Jeong said, "The media praises him as if they highly evaluate him, but his heart must be burning inside. How would he feel abandoning a place where he could be safely elected and reluctantly going to a place where he might not win?"

Jeong analyzed that Ha, who is from the non-Yoon faction, was pushed out of Haeundae. He said, "Mayor Hong Joon-pyo of Daegu seems to have clearly stated it. He went to find his own way," adding, "It is the sorrow of the non-Yoon faction. If he were pro-Yoon, he would have just stayed in Haeundae."

Earlier, Mayor Hong evaluated Ha's choice on his own communication channel "Youth's Dream," saying, "Rather than putting the country first and then the people, it seems like he is finding his own way."