Ha Tae-kyung: "This General Election is Handonghun's Time... He Must Decide Quickly"

"Kim Gi-hyeon Regime Does Not Help Metropolitan Area Elections"

Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, urged Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, to "make a decision and come out as soon as possible," pressing him to hasten his declaration to run in next year's general election.

On the 6th, Ha appeared on YTN Radio's 'News King Park Ji-hoon' and said, "(Minister Han) is practically more of a politician than a bureaucrat now," adding, "This general election is Han Dong-hoon's time, and Han Dong-hoon needs to go out on nationwide support campaigns."

He continued, "If new first-term candidates run, local people might not know them well, and in areas with strong territorialism, they could lose to independents," emphasizing, "So for first-time candidates to establish themselves, it is effective if the public is familiar with someone who can say, 'Ah, this person is a good person. You should vote for this person.' The person who can play that role best is Han Dong-hoon."

Regarding Minister Han's method of running, he said, "I don't want to recommend a constituency," and added, "It would be good if he runs as a lower-ranked proportional representative candidate, somewhere in the later order in the metropolitan area (in this general election)."

On the prospect of next year's general election being fought under a 'triumvirate system' of Kim Ki-hyun, Han Dong-hoon, and Won Hee-ryong, he pointed out, "I hope Kim Ki-hyun, the party leader, is not upset, but looking mainly at the metropolitan area elections, the Kim Ki-hyun leadership does not provide much help."

On the other hand, regarding Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Minister Han running, he said, "They help in the metropolitan area elections." Ha emphasized, "Considering these points comprehensively, the party leadership transition, the election committee system, and the nomination committee should be organized. This is not me saying the leader should step down, but anyway, winning in the metropolitan area is the way for President Yoon."

Regarding his challenge to former Presidential Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok with the words, "Jong-seok, let's have a match in Jongno," he said, "There must be close aides of (former Chief of Staff Im), and the message coming through them is that Jongno is the top priority for candidacy," adding, "But it seems he cannot speak openly because there is strong internal party control."

He continued, "Anyway, former Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok is pro-Moon, and the pro-Moon faction is somewhat in distress," and said, "So due to internal party power dynamics, he seems to be showing a cautious approach."