Create a Red Team to Convey Party and Public Sentiment to the President
Top Priorities Include Establishing the 2nd Secretariat
Former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong announced on the 23rd that he will take responsibility for the success of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration by running for party leader in the July 23 party convention.
On the afternoon of the same day, Won held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office to announce his candidacy for party leader, saying, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration is a government we built together. Although I was a competitor in the primary, I took responsibility for the presidential campaign pledges and participated in state affairs as a minister of an economic ministry."
First, Won said, "At this rate, everyone will die. This may be the last chance. I reflect on this. Because of my and the party's shortcomings, we did not receive the people's choice," and bowed his head, saying, "This is a ruling party election, but we failed to persuade the president. Over the past two years, we did not explain to the people what went wrong and what must be done well in the remaining three years."
Referring to his experience as the first Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, he said, "Trust is necessary to properly establish the party-government relationship. I have trust with the president," and promised, "I will convey the party's and public's sentiments to the president without any alteration. I will form a Red Team. I will personally deliver the vivid public sentiment collected by the Red Team. And I will report the results to the people."
Regarding the major opposition party, the Democratic Party of Korea, he said, "They are trampling on the long-standing traditions and practices of the National Assembly using their number of seats as a weapon. I will confront the opposition's reckless behavior head-on," emphasizing, "I will cooperate, but I will not kneel."
When asked by a reporter about his stance on the special prosecutor law related to Chae Sang-byeong, Won said, "I sincerely express my sadness and condolences. To prevent such tragic accidents in the future, I believe a thorough investigation into the causes and responsibilities of the accident must be conducted, and those responsible must be held accountable," adding, "I understand that the investigation is currently underway at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). If the investigation results are insufficient, the ruling party has already stated that a special prosecutor may be requested first." Regarding the special prosecutor for Kim Geon-hee, he expressed a general position, saying, "Depending on the investigation results, as a citizen of the Republic of Korea, if there is a need to take responsibility, that responsibility should be taken to resolve the public's suspicions."
On the party-government relationship, he explained, "When I was the head of the policy headquarters in the presidential election camp, during the transition team, or while serving as the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, I had many discussions with the party and the president on issues where opinions differed or matters not yet discussed with the president," adding, "Therefore, if I take on the role of party leader going forward, I have trust based on my past experiences and the discussions we have had."
He added, "With my 25 years of political experience and as a central figure of the original reformist faction of the Grand National Party who was at the forefront of giving harsh criticism, I am confident that I can sufficiently resolve conflicts."
When asked about Na Kyung-won's comment after her candidacy press conference, where she compared former Emergency Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon and former Minister Won by saying, "One lost in Gyeyang, the other lost nationwide," Won retorted, "I would like her to try running in Jeju or Incheon, where our party has never won for 20 years or more, before making such comments."
Regarding the suggestion that meeting Lee Jae-myung, the leader who defeated him in Incheon Gyeyang, would remind him of his defeat, Won responded, "Politics is not a place for personal revenge," and said, "Since we represent the people and bear public responsibilities, I will do my best to embody the most desirable image as party leader in dealing with Lee as the leader of the opposition."
Regarding his intention to call himself part of the Red Team, he explained, "We must first resolve the public's harsh criticism over promises already made but not kept, such as the establishment of the second secretariat and the appointment of a special inspector. Only then can trust be restored and the distance between the people and the presidential office narrowed," adding, "These will be the top priorities of the Red Team. Naturally, I say this with that premise."
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