Won Hee-ryong Criticizes Election Rival Lee Jae-myung as 'Criminal Suspect' to Check Him

Incheon Gyeyang-eul General Election Showdown
"Not a Hostage to Any Specific Party"

Former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

On the 2nd, Won Hee-ryong, former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and member of the People Power Party, sharply criticized Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, labeling him a criminal suspect in relation to their confirmed head-to-head contest in the Incheon Gyeyang-eul district for the general election.

On the same day, former Minister Won posted on Facebook under the title "Criminal Suspect or Local Worker," stating, "No region in the Republic of Korea should be held hostage by a specific political party. Gyeyang is no exception."

The People Power Party officially nominated former Minister Won for Gyeyang-eul on the 15th of last month, while the Democratic Party confirmed the nomination of Lee, the incumbent representative of the district, on this day.

Gyeyang-eul is the district where former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil served five terms, and Lee was elected in the 2022 by-election for Gyeyang-eul.

Former Minister Won said, "Although two Democratic Party leaders have emerged from Gyeyang-eul over the past 25 years, the development of Gyeyang has been slow and the lives of residents have not improved," emphasizing, "From now on, even if a criminal suspect is nominated or absurd pledges are made, they will not be unconditionally elected."

He then compared the contest with Lee to football team coaches, asking, "Is it Klinsmann or Hiddink?" and added, "Gyeyang must change to develop. It will definitely change, and Won Hee-ryong will truly make it happen."