Na Kyung-won: "Fandom and Lineup Tactics Don't Work... I'm the Right Person to Oust Lee Jae-myung" [Party Leadership Candidate Interview]②

Fandom Election and Pro-Yoon Group Conflict Exhaust Party Members
"I Am the One to Build a Healthy Relationship with the Presidential Office"
"I Will Raise Party Approval Ratings to Stop the Democratic Party's Rampage"

Na Kyung-won, the People Power Party's candidate for party leader, expressed confidence in her victory at the upcoming July 23 party convention. She is convinced that party members, tired of fandom and pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) factional organized elections, will make a "wise choice." In an interview with Asia Economy on the 5th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, Na said, "What party members want most is to oust Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party," adding, "I often hear party members asking to stop the Democratic Party from shamelessly running the National Assembly to shield Lee Jae-myung."

Na Kyung-won, the People Power Party's candidate for party leader, is being interviewed at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

During the last general election, Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader, visited the Dongjak district the most. Despite that, you won. Is there a special secret?

Since the central party's judgment theory of "Let's punish the criminals" targeting Lee Jae-myung and Cho Kuk didn't seem effective, I considered a separate social network service (SNS) election strategy. The campaign song "NaDongTtak (Na Kyung-won is perfect for Dongjak)," a parody of singer Song Dae-gwan's "Popular Song," garnered over 1.29 million views on Instagram Reels. The "Proceed with the grass field" reel, which included a pledge to lay grass on the school playground, recorded 1.99 million views. It seems the strategy to express politics and policies in a somewhat friendly manner and get closer to the public worked well.

The Democratic Party is pushing for the 'impeachment of prosecutors.'

Isn't everything ultimately about "saving Lee Jae-myung"? Does the idea of impeaching prosecutors make sense? Are the grounds for impeachment valid? Such things, which are unreasonable and unconstitutional, happen because of Lee Jae-myung. Some even go as far as to ask why he hasn't been arrested yet.

Thinking quietly, since I have experience bringing down former Minister Cho Kuk, I believe I can also bring down Lee Jae-myung. When I was floor leader, the first thing I did was to report former Environment Minister Kim Eun-kyung's blacklist (resulting in a confirmed two-year prison sentence), and I also raised the suspicion of land speculation by Sohn Hye-won (resulting in a confirmed fine of 10 million won), which led to a prison sentence. Starting from there, it extended to former Minister Cho Kuk's children's admission corruption case (two-year prison sentence in the second trial). I worked really hard and made relentless efforts, which made it possible to come to power after five years. We must clearly point out and stop what is wrong.

Na Kyung-won, the People Power Party's candidate for party leader, is being interviewed at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

You are confident of victory; what is the reason?

One side is trying to run the election as a kind of fandom, and the other side as a kind of organization. It is a confrontation between the pro-Yoon organization and fandom elections, and I think party members are all tired of it. The order voting that was used last time no longer works as much. Party members seem to judge that fandom politics is not truly helpful to our party. Party members think twice or thrice about fandom politics, and I believe they will not feel as strongly about the pro-Yoon organized election as they did last year.

At the June 11, 2021 party convention, even though Lee Jun-seok was far ahead of me in public opinion polls, when considering only party members and People Power Party supporters, I won. I beat Lee by 4 percentage points. (At that time, in the party member vote, I received 40.9% to rank first, and Lee received 37.4%. In the general public opinion poll (30%), Lee Jun-seok received 58.8%, so I ultimately lost the election.)

Recently, First Lady Kim Geon-hee's text messages have become controversial. How do you plan to manage the relationship with the Presidential Office?

Selling out the people or the president for personal greed is not sincere politics. What the people want is a healthy tension between the party and the government. They want the ruling party to support the government's success while being able to offer reasonable policy criticism. Among the current candidates, I am the only one who can maintain a healthy relationship with the Presidential Office.

Na Kyung-won, the People Power Party's candidate for party leader, is being interviewed at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Is there a possibility of unification with candidate Won Hee-ryong?

It is still early in the party convention election. What kind of alliance can we talk about? I understand that candidate Won also said he would not mention it further.

If you become party leader, you will face Lee Jae-myung head-on in the National Assembly. Do you have a strategy to correct the tilted playing field in the National Assembly?

I will align the overall party strategy and the floor strategy precisely to fight as a united front. The party leader and floor leader will deliberate and decide together in the National Assembly to maximize the power of the 108 seats. We will gain the people's trust and increase approval ratings through reasonable alternatives and livelihood legislation to stop the Democratic Party's arrogant rampage together with the people.