Won Hee-ryong raises allegations of bribery mentioning figures Kang Mo and Lee Mo
Han Dong-hoon says "If my in-laws are acquaintances, I will retire from politics"
On the 11th, Won Hee-ryong, a candidate for the People Power Party leadership, announced that he would clarify the allegations of election interference by relatives of candidate Han Dong-hoon through party affairs inspection. In response, Han challenged him at the debate to make it public, saying, "If it's true, I will retire from politics."
On the same day, at the second broadcast debate for the People Power Party leadership hosted by MBN, Won responded to Han's demand to provide evidence that his relatives were involved in the nomination process.
Na Kyung-won, Won Hee-ryong, Han Dong-hoon, and Yoon Sang-hyun, four candidates for the People Power Party leadership, are taking a commemorative photo on the 11th at the MBN studio in Jung-gu, Seoul, before the second broadcast debate for party leader candidates. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group
From the start of the debate, Won aggressively asked Han, "With desperation for the future of our party, I ask you. If the three major allegations?the public opinion manipulation team, the Sa-cheon (secret nomination) allegations, and the recommendation of Kim Kyung-ryul as Financial Supervisory Service chairman?are true, how will you take responsibility?" He added, "If a person who only thinks about their presidential image and does not hesitate to lie and cause division becomes the party leader, we are all doomed."
In response, Han said, "Former Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom even played a recording. We need to stop this kind of old-fashioned politics," and criticized, "It seems worse than former lawmaker Kim." Han also pointed out, "You seem to be referring to my closest family, my wife, regarding the nomination interference allegations. Provide the evidence."
Won cited a past CBS news report as evidence and claimed, "I will point them out. Besides my aunt, Secretary Kang and some current proportional representatives are involved." It is presumed that he referred to former Secretary Lee Si-woo and lawyer Kang Se-won, who were initially on the proportional representation list but either voluntarily withdrew or were moved to lower positions after Lee Cheol-gyu, a key 'Pro-Yoon' (Pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) member of the nomination committee, publicly protested.
Han countered Won's repeated claim that the party affairs inspection would reveal the truth by saying, "Tell us now. Isn't this just spreading filth before the election?" and "You mean you have no materials to present right now, right?"
Han further responded strongly, "This is just brain-fic (officially recognized thoughts based solely on one's own ideas). Is the CBS article now Won's material? I don't even know their names, but if you say 'those two are acquaintances of my wife' or 'have met once,' I will retire from politics."
Meanwhile, when candidate Yoon Sang-hyun asked if Won had met the two individuals, Won replied, "They themselves have not met." When Yoon asked again, "So you didn't investigate directly?" Won answered, "No. I met people around them and those who are confident they were involved in the nomination process."
Na Kyung-won, Won Hee-ryong, Han Dong-hoon, and Yoon Sang-hyun, four candidates for the People Power Party leadership, are participating in the second broadcast debate for party leader candidates held on the 11th at the MBN studio in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group
Won raised allegations that Han recommended accountant Kim Kyung-yul, who was active in the 'Han Dong-hoon Emergency Committee,' for the Financial Supervisory Service chairman position. Han denied, saying, "I did not recommend him. Please stop spreading false information."
Won pressed, "Since I was the planning committee chairman during the transition team, I know all about personnel recommendations and processes for key positions," and questioned, "Trying to cover the sky with your palm, if it turns out to be a lie, how will you take responsibility?" Han replied, "I will resign. What about you, Won?" to which Won responded, "I will take responsibility."
Won also attacked Han over his proposal to amend the 'Special Prosecutor Law' related to Chae Sang-byeong. This came after former Marine Corps division commander Im Seong-geun, who was accused in connection with the case, was recently cleared, which could weaken Han's previous claims.
When Won asked, "Will you maintain your special prosecutor claim?" Han explained, "The police investigation focused on the cause of the accident, while the special prosecutor is mainly concerned with handling the subsequent situation."
Han emphasized, "We must strongly oppose the Democratic Party's special prosecutor law and uphold the veto power until the end," and counterattacked, "How will you block the special prosecutor? Are you confident you can block it? Can you block it with 108 seats?" Won sarcastically replied, "Why can't you block it? Are you planning to lose eight votes?"
The Special Prosecutor Law, returned with a request for reconsideration, will undergo another vote in the National Assembly. For it to be re-approved, a majority of the total members must be present, and at least two-thirds of those present must vote in favor. If eight or more of the 108 People Power Party members vote in favor, the president's veto will be nullified.
Candidate Na Kyung-won criticized Han for mentioning party affairs interference related to the controversy over Mrs. Kim's text messages and pointed out Han's previous statement in a TV debate implying that the president opposed Mrs. Kim's apology.
Na said, "Dragging the president into this repeatedly is dangerous," and added, "When former President Park Geun-hye was indicted, there was party affairs interference and state affairs manipulation. Isn't this a threatening remark to President Yoon?"
Han countered, "It is inappropriate to criticize me for answering a question that inevitably involved the president."
Candidate Yoon argued that publishing a general election white paper before the party convention is necessary to resolve various suspicions surrounding party-government relations. Yoon asked Han, "Should the party convention be one that reflects on the causes of the general election defeat? Are you willing to request the publication of the general election white paper?"
Han replied, "The general election white paper clearly aims to hurt me," and added, "I am concerned about the fairness of the party convention, but the decision should be made by the Emergency Committee chairman."
Meanwhile, when asked whether Yoon Seok-yeol should give up his party membership for regime re-creation, all candidates answered "No (X)."
Na said, "We are a party that has experienced presidential impeachment. The president's success and our re-election are connected. In a way, they go hand in hand," and added, "If we separate the president and say we are clean and did well, we will never get votes. I think giving up party membership is unnecessary."
Yoon said, "At the end of the Lee Myung-bak (MB) administration, as the president's approval rating dropped, MB's close aides, lawmakers Jung Du-eon and Jung Tae-geun, demanded MB leave the party," and added, "But I opposed it. Politics should be additive, not subtractive. No matter how wrong the president is, we must carry both assets and liabilities together."
Won said, "Whether you like or dislike the president, whether his approval rating falls, the regime will be re-created only if we change together and recover approval ratings," and warned, "If we rush to differentiate ourselves and clash with the government because the president's popularity has dropped, we will surely lose." He criticized Han, saying, "Especially if a special prosecutor is appointed by a third party or anyone, it will lead to impeachment. A candidate irresponsibly making such claims is walking a different path alone."
Han said, "The Yoon Seok-yeol government must succeed for regime re-creation to be possible. Our supporters' strong desire is regime re-creation. For that, the Yoon Seok-yeol government must succeed, and I will take the lead."
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