Won Hee-ryong "A Promise Centered on Chungcheong One Step Above Consideration"

Daejeon Mayor Ijangwoo Responds to Criticism Saying "Never Heard of Consideration for Chungcheong"

People Power Party leadership candidate and former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong is having a conversation with Lee Jang-woo, Mayor of Daejeon, on the 2nd. / Daejeon - Photo by Park Jong-myeong

On the 2nd, Won Hee-ryong, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, stated, "I promise a Chungcheong-centered approach that is one step higher than mere consideration for Chungcheong."

On the same day, during a meeting with Lee Jang-woo, the mayor of Daejeon, Won said, "I heard from the press room that the mayor said he would create a separate Chungcheong Party, but please, even as a joke, don't say that," adding, "The defeat in the Chungcheong region is the same as the defeat in the metropolitan area, so unless the People Power Party becomes a Chungcheong-centered party, there is no way to recover going forward."

He continued, "Whether it is nurturing talent, regional development, party affairs, or national governance, we will prove the Chungcheong-centered approach in a short time, so please refrain from such remarks," appealing earnestly.

In response, Mayor Lee explained the background of the Chungcheong Party remarks, saying, "Even during the last general election, whether it was the ruling or opposition party, the Democratic Party or our party, there was consideration for Honam and Yeongnam, but I have never heard of consideration for Chungcheong."

Won said, "The very fact that the mayor came to say this shows that there have been problems with the party's leadership and national governance so far," and added, "I apologize."