Jo Hae-jin: "Within 1-2 weeks, the fate of the party and government will be decided... President Yoon must truly become a real president"

Jo Hae-jin "Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung's Sole Leadership... Strategy is Impeachment and Early Election"
Only Way to Overcome Defeat in General Election is Restoring Public Support

On the 19th, Jo Hae-jin, a member of the People Power Party, appealed that President Yoon Seok-yeol and the party must reform, saying, "The fate of the country, the party, and the Yoon Seok-yeol administration will be decided within the next one to two weeks." Jo told President Yoon, "For the remaining three years, you must live as a presidential president, a true president," and to the party, "The party must lead the government based on the foundation of public sentiment."

On the same day, Jo made these remarks at a press conference in the National Assembly, stating that the Democratic Party of Korea would hold an early presidential election. He claimed, "The only strategy of the 22nd National Assembly's Democratic Party is to impeach President Yoon Seok-yeol and hold an early presidential election," adding, "The Democratic Party has established the Lee Jae-myung sole system through the general election nominations. In the event of Lee Jae-myung's absence, the next presidential election will be lost, resulting in a system lacking alternatives and a locked system." He further analyzed, "The inevitable task for the Democratic Party is to hold the presidential election before Representative Lee Jae-myung goes to prison," and "The Democratic Party will stake everything on holding the election before Lee loses his eligibility to run."

People Power Party lawmaker Cho Hae-jin is discussing election system reform issues in his office at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

He emphasized that the breakthrough in this situation is the recovery of public sentiment.

Jo said, "Only the power of public opinion can restrain the Democratic Party's unilateral advance and prevent impeachment," adding, "Although we lost in the politics of elections, the politics of public sentiment is still open. If public sentiment is recovered, despite the overwhelming minority in the National Assembly, normal state administration will be possible for the remaining three years."

He stated, "What the people want from President Yoon is a humble president, a communicating president, and a competent president who works well," and said, "President Yoon Seok-yeol must put down all grudges, empty his mind, and sincerely bow before the people." He continued, "He must be reborn from an 'unprepared president' to a 'hardened president' and a 'true president,'" and said, "For the remaining three years, he must live as a presidential president, a true president."

Addressing the party, he argued, "Just as the progressive left wing became the majority and the mainstream political force by appealing to grassroots public sentiment when it was a minority, now the conservative right wing must humbly immerse itself in public sentiment," and "It must start by extending a hand of reconciliation and embracing comrades and allies who were neglected and alienated inside and outside the party." Jo said, "The party convention should be a process to establish a party system capable of fulfilling this role," and insisted, "We must create a party that represents public sentiment, properly speaks to the president and government, and has the capability to solve problems."

He emphasized, "If we stand upright, the people will decisively cut ties with the Lee Jae-myung party," and said, "Although there is still plenty of arithmetic time left, there is little time left for political inflection. The fate of the country, the party, and the Yoon Seok-yeol administration will be decided within the next one to two weeks." He added, "During these fateful few days, the party, government, and president must all hold their breath, practice restraint and self-discipline, and achieve unprecedented self-transformation."