Korea Sets National Assembly Communication Office for Candidacy Press Conference
Intends to Dispel Concerns Over 'Limitations of Non-Assembly Party Leaders'
Won Hee-ryong and Yoon Sang-hyun Also Express Intent to Run
Na Kyung-won Hints at Candidacy, Saying "Time for Decision Is Rising"
Former People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon is scheduled to declare his candidacy for party leader at the party convention to be held on the 23rd of next month. On the same day, Representative Yoon Sang-hyun and former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong also announced their decisions to run for party leader, while Representative Na Kyung-won hinted at an imminent candidacy by saying, "The time for decision has come," forming a four-way race.
Han's side announced through a press release on the 20th that he will hold a press conference to declare his candidacy at 2 p.m. on the 23rd at the National Assembly Communication Hall.
It is interpreted that former committee chairman Han, an outsider to the National Assembly, intends to dispel concerns about an outsider becoming party leader by making his declaration at the National Assembly Communication Hall. The Communication Hall is a place where members of the National Assembly hold press conferences, and it also houses the press room where journalists are stationed.
Through the candidacy press conference, Han is expected to reveal the future direction of party reform, political reform, and party-government relations.
Earlier, Han set up his campaign office at the Daesan Building in Yeouido, Seoul, and completed the organization of his staff. He is also in final discussions regarding his running mates, including candidates for the Supreme Council.
Former Minister Won Hee-ryong and Representative Yoon Sang-hyun, who have been considered strong contenders alongside former committee chairman Han, also announced their intentions to run on the same day. Former Minister Won had been in seclusion except for meeting Han after the April 10 general election. Because of this, there was a prevailing view in political circles that Won would not run in the party convention. However, considering his still high popularity and repeated encouragement from those around him, it appears he changed his stance at the last minute.
In a statement sent to reporters that day, former Minister Won said, "I have decided to run for the party convention," explaining his candidacy background: "After reflecting on the defeat in the last general election, I concluded that now is the time for the party and government to unite as one and achieve change and reform that fully respects the public sentiment expressed through the election."
Representative Yoon's side also announced, "Representative Yoon will hold a press conference to declare his candidacy at 11:30 a.m. on the 21st at Yonghyeon Market in Yonghyeon-dong, Michuhol-gu, Incheon." Yoon, a five-term senior lawmaker from the metropolitan area of the People Power Party, won in Incheon Dong-gu Michuhol-gu, considered a conservative stronghold in the last general election. Given that Yoon has expressed the need to unify the ruling camp, which has been divided into pro- and anti-Yoon factions, and to rebuild conservatism, it is expected that he will emphasize this in his candidacy declaration. Before hosting a seminar at the National Assembly Members' Office Building that afternoon, Yoon told reporters, "I decided to run because I believe that an experienced politician like Yoon Sang-hyun has a role to lead conservative revolution, support the Yoon Suk-yeol government’s administration, and achieve cooperation with the opposition."
Representative Na also hinted at an imminent candidacy by meeting with reporters at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the same day. Na said, "I am listening to various public sentiments inside and outside the party," adding, "The time for my decision, the moment of decision, is approaching."
Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, is answering questions from reporters after attending the People Power Party and People’s Future elected members' general meeting held at the National Assembly on the 16th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
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