"Some Constituents Misunderstood It as Concession and Protested"
"Is Running in a District with an Incumbent Lawmaker Considered a Tough Race?"
Ha Tae-kyung, a three-term member of the People Power Party from Haeundae, announced his intention to run in Jongno, prompting the incumbent Jongno MP Choi Jae-hyung of the People Power Party to say he "understood" the decision. However, Choi expressed discomfort, saying, "That wording is a bit uncomfortable."
On the 29th, Choi said on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that "The expression 'understood' is ambiguous. It implies 'accepting generously,' but for him to interpret it that way and use that wording is a bit uncomfortable."
Choi Jae-hyung, a member of the People Power Party, is delivering a congratulatory speech at the '2022 Seoul Future Forum' held on the 16th at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
Ha appeared on the same radio show the previous day and emphasized that there was consultation with Choi, saying, "I mentioned it over a meal, and since Choi has a good character, he said how could he stop me from running, and that he would understand."
However, Choi stated that the meal was far from a consultation. He said, "I suggested we have a meal together, and while eating, I asked him, 'You are also running in a tough district in the metropolitan area; do you have a particular place in mind now?' He said it was Jongno," adding that it was completely unexpected.
He indicated that Ha's action was closer to a 'notification after decision' rather than a 'consultation after consideration.' He said, "So Ha probably noticed that I didn't get angry or try to stop him there, and he said something like, 'You are very gentlemanly,' with that kind of nuance," adding, "If you said you would consult with me about whether to run in Jongno, I would have a lot to say, but since you are a lifelong politician who has considered many things and then told me after deciding, what could I say?"
When asked by the host whether Ha explained why he was running in Jongno, Choi replied, "No," and expressed frustration, saying, "He used the word 'understood' because I didn't protest or try to stop him at that moment, but some people misunderstand that as a concession and protest to me in the constituency."
He added, "Many Jongno residents are very angry about Ha's candidacy," and said, "There is an incumbent MP with no ties to Jongno at all, and while the party organization is barely being held together with effort, it is hard to accept that he (Ha) is running," reflecting widespread reactions.
In response to the host's question, "You accepted it coolly, but do you mean it shouldn't be described as 'understood'?" he said, "It's not a situation to get angry," and added, "I have to protect Jongno. I don't think there is anyone better than me to protect Jongno in the current situation."
Ha claimed on MBC radio the previous day that there is no disagreement within the party that Jongno is a tough district, and that it was perceived as such even when rumors about Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon running surfaced. Regarding this, Choi said, "Jongno is not that easy. For more than 10 years, the district heads and assembly members have all been from the Democratic Party," partially agreeing with Ha's statement.
However, Choi pointed out that Ha's candidacy in Jongno is far from a 'running in a tough district.' He said, "What I think running in a tough district means is a competitive senior politician leaving their own district, giving up vested interests, and running with a spirit of sacrifice in a place where winning is difficult and no one wants to run," adding, "I have doubts about whether running in a place where there is an incumbent and many want to run can be called running in a tough district."
He also mentioned the possibility that Ha might turn his attention elsewhere. Choi said, "My impression is that he might go to a place where the party arranges the traffic. That’s the feeling I got."
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