Yoon Sang-hyun "Blow Up Rotten Entrenched Interests"
Han Dong-hoon "Starting from Honam, People Power Politics Trending Upward"
Na Kyung-won "Can Oust Lee Jae-myung"
Won Hee-ryong "Complete Reconstruction of President and Party"
On the 8th, the People Power Party's presidential candidates running in the July 23 party convention emphasized party unity and a healthy party-government relationship, while asserting that they are capable of standing against the Democratic Party and former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung.
Candidates Na Kyung-won, Yoon Sang-hyun, Won Hee-ryong, and Han Dong-hoon made these remarks at the Honam-Jeju joint speech event held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju that afternoon.
Candidate Yoon called for the party to reflect and advocated for the "destruction of rotten vested interests," while candidate Han claimed he could elevate People Power Party politics starting from Honam and stand against former leader Lee.
Candidate Na asserted that candidates Won and Han engage in factional politics and confidently stated that she is the candidate who will expel Lee Jae-myung. Candidate Won pledged to reform and unify the presidency and the party.
Yoon Sang-hyun: "Our party abandoned Honam again... I will destroy rotten vested interests"
Yoon, the first among the party leader candidates to take the podium, said, "According to party rules, our party was supposed to allocate five candidates within the top 20 proportional representation spots to Honam party members in this general election. However, this was not actually upheld. We deprived you of your rightful entitlement. We only exploited your goodwill and discarded you like a used item." This statement is interpreted as targeting candidate Han, who led the last general election as the emergency committee chairman.
Yoon further criticized the party's defeat in the last general election, saying, "I warned against subtractive politics and urged the leadership to devise countermeasures amid the metropolitan area crisis theory. But the party cowardly remained silent." He added, "No one was held accountable, and no one took responsibility. Even 80 days after the election defeat, no white paper has been released," and asked, "Since when did our conservatives become so cowardly?" repeatedly targeting candidate Han. He especially emphasized, "Factional politics and vested interests that line people up are rotten vested interests. They are the absolute evil that sickens the metropolitan area and ruins Honam," pledging to destroy factional politics and vested interests.
Yoon's pledges include institutionalizing political academies in provincial parties to nurture local talent for a value-based party and restructuring the Yeouido Institute. The aim is to establish ideological coordinates and policies for all party members to study. He also plans to launch a Livelihood Committee to counter the Democratic Party's Euljiro Committee and focus on livelihood issues. Additionally, he envisions establishing a Civil Complaints Bureau, a Committee for the Vulnerable, and a Committee for Candid Criticism to build a foundation for livelihood politics. He introduced a pledge to open a second People Power Party office in Gwangju and visit Honam region sites every Monday.
Han Dong-hoon: "Starting from Honam, I will elevate People Power Party... I will stop Lee Jae-myung's reckless actions"
Candidate Han, who adopted "Change" and "Start" as his catchphrases, pledged to elevate People Power Party politics starting from Honam by establishing the party's first youth political school in Honam, visiting sites to address livelihood and industrial issues in Honam and Jeju, and reorganizing the Yeouido Institute with a policy focus. He promised to set up the party's first youth political school in Honam to support the budding young conservatives in the region. Han explained, "Among those who proposed policies in Honam and Jeju, over 53% were under their 20s. This is a clear difference from other regions. Although the number of conservatives in Honam is not large, they are very young. Honam conservatives are young conservatives. I see hope for Honam conservatives to rise again at this point."
He also mentioned actively addressing the livelihood of Honam and Jeju beyond preserving their history. After promising to visit livelihood and industrial sites in Honam and Jeju, Han emphasized, "I will dramatically improve the lives of our fellow citizens in Honam and Jeju who endure day by day amid high interest rates and high inflation." He also pledged to create a competent party by reorganizing the Yeouido Institute, the People Power Party's think tank, around policies to establish a virtuous cycle ecosystem between the party and the private sector. Notably, he promised to build a party capable of fighting the giant opposition Democratic Party single-handedly. Han said, "If I become party leader, People Power Party politicians will never pursue a well-being lifestyle. Now, let's make People Power Party supporters well-being."
Regarding ongoing attacks from the pro-Yoon faction, Han emphasized party unity, saying, "If I become leader, our People Power Party will have only one faction: 'Pro-Kook'?pro-country, pro-people, pro-People Power Party." He added, "People say, '100 days were too short to use and discard you like this. You can stop the reckless Lee Jae-myung.' You have seen well. I will do just that," raising his voice.
Na Kyung-won: "No lining up... I will expel Lee Jae-myung"
Candidate Na criticized the pro-Yoon faction, candidate Han, and the conflicts between candidates Won and Han during the party convention phase, asserting that she is the right person to lead the party. Na said, "Can People Power Party defeat Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party with such disgraceful behavior? Fighting among ourselves, dividing, lining up, and queuing is absolutely unacceptable." She continued, "Is this a failing party convention or a thriving one? Is it a dividing convention or a unifying one? Na Kyung-won will unite People Power Party," pledging, "We cannot have a party leader who clashes over every issue or one who is timid and led around. Na will fully support the president when he does well and candidly criticize when the president is out of touch with public sentiment."
Addressing former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party, she said, "If we remain trapped in the frame set by the Democratic Party and only put on a show, we will be endlessly dragged along." She vowed, "I will expose the Democratic Party's gaslighting of Honam in detail. I will completely end the Democratic Party's exploitation of Honam," appealing, "I will develop Honam's economy and make Honam residents happy to earn their support."
Furthermore, Na said, "Are you not afraid that the Democratic Party, which dominates the legislature, will swallow the entire Republic of Korea, destroy our liberal democracy, impeach the president, and establish leftist dictatorship? Our constitutional order is on the brink of collapse." She asked, "What kind of leadership does our party need now? Shouldn't we catch Lee Jae-myung first? I was the one who brought down former Minister Cho Kuk. I will definitely expel former leader Lee from our political arena," promising.
Won Hee-ryong: "Complete reconstruction of president and party needed... Party-government will revive livelihoods together"
Candidate Won, who served as the first Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, asserted that a "complete reconstruction" change is necessary for both the president and the party, claiming he is the candidate who can regain public trust through party-government teamwork. Referring to his experience resolving conflicts between the construction company and prospective residents after the collapse of the Hwajeong-dong I-Park in January 2022, as the policy chief for then-presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol, planning committee chairman of the presidential transition team, and Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Won said, "Isn't real politics about improving people's lives with the best teamwork? If we continue like this, we cannot win the next local elections and presidential election. Both the president and the party must change," emphasizing the need for complete reconstruction.
Won sharpened his criticism of candidate Han, currently considered the frontrunner among party leader candidates. Targeting Han, who had rumored conflicts with President Yoon, Won said, "The worst thing is fighting among ourselves. The moment we fight among ourselves, we are abandoned by the people." He pointed out, "The party leader we need now must have long experience overcoming everything and the ability to communicate with the president to revive livelihoods through party-government cooperation."
He added, "No matter how excellent a player is, no player is greater than the team," and said, "It is too risky to entrust the party leadership to someone who has not yet grasped the team's identity or led team unity." He also pledged, "I know the shortcomings of the Yoon Suk-yeol government better than anyone. I will discuss and persuade the president overnight if necessary. We will definitely change together."
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