[Hot Interview] Jo Baesuk, Proportional Representation Candidate of the Ruling Party, "Honam Atmosphere Will Gradually Improve"

Chilly Atmosphere in Jeonbuk... "Hold Back Party Members Who Say They Will Leave"
"Jeonbuk, Gwangju, and Jeonnam Have Slightly Different Sentiments"

The People Power Party's satellite party for proportional representation, Kukmin Mirae, which faced criticism for neglecting Honam, has revised its list of proportional representation candidates. This came after the Honam faction strongly protested, saying "Honam has been marginalized," following the announcement of the candidate list on the 19th. Candidates from the Jeonbuk electoral district strongly opposed and threatened to resign en masse if the proportional representation candidate list was not adjusted. Consequently, Cho Bae-sook, the People Power Party Jeonbuk Provincial Party Chair from Honam, was placed at number 13, a winning position on the list. In a phone interview on the 21st, Chair Cho said, "The cold atmosphere toward the People Power Party in Honam will change."

Former National Assembly member Jo Bae-suk is declaring his candidacy for Governor of Jeonbuk Province at the National Assembly on the 18th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

How is the Honam atmosphere after the revision of the proportional representation list?

With a Jeonbuk figure included in the winning ranks of the proportional representation list, the atmosphere in Honam will gradually improve. Until yesterday, the local mood was cold. Jeonbuk district candidates reportedly heard citizens say, "Why are you asking for help after dropping Cho Bae-sook?" every time they campaigned. I also had a hard time persuading people who said they would leave the party. Still, now that Jeonbuk is included in the proportional representation list, I think the public sentiment that had turned away will come back.

Ju Gi-hwan, the People Power Party Gwangju City Party Chair, was excluded from the list.

Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Jeonbuk have slightly different sentiments. Jeonbuk is a special autonomous province, so its concerns may differ from those of Gwangju and Jeonnam, and public sentiment does not come together as one. It needs to be viewed separately.

There are rumors of conflict between the Presidential Office and the party over the nomination of Kukmin Mirae's proportional representation candidates.

I do not agree. Currently, the People Power Party is under an Emergency Response Committee system. The members of the Emergency Committee are from outside the party and may not be familiar with internal party affairs, which I think led to this kind of nomination. According to the People Power Party regulations, when nominating proportional representation candidates, at least five candidates from difficult constituencies must be placed within the top 20 ranks. This reflects the party's efforts to resolve regional conflicts. In the past, candidates were nominated simply because they were from Honam, but these individuals ran in Seoul or the metropolitan area. That approach cannot produce winners in difficult constituencies or promote regional development.

If elected as a member of the National Assembly, what role will you play for Honam?

I will serve as a communication channel between the central government and Honam. Also, there will be local elections next year. We need to discover and nurture talents who will run in those elections. Only then can we produce winners in (difficult) constituencies. We will prepare for that.