"Ruling Party's Metropolitan Area Candidates Likely in Panic"
"Democratic Party Must Innovate, Not Be Complacent About Victory"
Cho Eung-cheon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, commented on the responsibility of the People Power Party's leadership following their defeat in the Seoul Gangseo District Mayor by-election, saying, "The limitations of the Kim Gi-hyeon leadership system were clear from the beginning anyway," and added, "This time they were hit with a mop, but if they don't listen again, next time it will be a metal club."
The defeat of the People Power Party was influenced by a judgment against the government and ruling party, and Cho warned that if there is no change, it could lead to even worse results in next year's general election.
In an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 12th, Cho said, "Those who want to run in next year's general election, especially those aspiring to run in the metropolitan area, must be in a state of panic," and added, "They probably think they won't be able to run."
He continued, "When they woke up in the morning and saw the election results, they must have thought, 'It will be difficult without a comprehensive change in the national policy direction,' and 'The Kim Gi-hyeon leadership system won't work,'" and pointed out, "The question is whether the People Power Party atmosphere can boldly observe and accept that."
On the 26th, Cho Eung-cheon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, attended the "Democratic Party Reflection and Innovation Continuous Forum" held at the National Assembly and presented on the topic "Reflection and Lessons from Five and a Half Years of Democratic Party's Governance." Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
He further explained, "If you put a frog in a pot of water and heat it up, the frog will jump and make a fuss, but it cannot open the lid. However, if you put a snakehead fish in, it is so strong that it opens the lid and jumps out," emphasizing, "Whether the People Power Party candidates will remain like the frog or become like the snakehead fish is a decision they must make."
At the same time, he stressed that the Democratic Party must not become complacent with this by-election victory and must innovate. Cho said, "If you get hit badly with a metal club, you could die, so if more frogs think they will be hit with a metal club, change can happen," and warned, "But if we become intoxicated with victory, saying 'We won under the Lee Jae-myung system,' and 'We will have a landslide victory in next year's general election as well,' then the mop will come to our side, and next time, a metal club might fly at us without the mop."
Regarding the discussion about senior lawmakers running in difficult constituencies, which has been sparked by Ha Tae-kyung of the People Power Party declaring his candidacy for Seoul, Cho responded, "Since there was a big victory this time, (within the Democratic Party) there probably won't be such moves for a while."
Cho predicted, "On the contrary, from the People Power Party side, there might be talks like 'The leadership from the Yeongnam region should be the first to declare candidacy in difficult constituencies,' or 'Among the Yoon core officials (Yoon Seok-yeol President's key associates), those who are prominent should run. Let's try to lift this stagnant atmosphere a bit.' If that happens, our party might also be stimulated."
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