I "Will Pay Foreign Workers Below Minimum Wage"
Yoon "Conservative Strongholds Are in the Capital Area... Making Daegu the Second Pangyo"
Han "Moved by Former President Park's Warm Welcome... Respect for TK Citizens"
Won "A Mediator Between Enemies Is a Traitor... Trust Needed with the President"
At the People Power Party Daegu·Gyeongbuk (TK) joint rally held in Daegu, the heart of conservatism, on the 12th, the party leadership candidates emphasized their ties to Daegu and targeted the Daegu public sentiment with keywords such as 'experience,' 'economy,' 'Park Geun-hye,' and 'traitor.' Supporters of each candidate gathered at Daegu EXCO before the speeches began and engaged in showing their support. They also cheered the candidates' names intermittently during the speeches to boost morale.
Na Kyung-won: "I will allow foreign workers to be paid below minimum wage"
Na Kyung-won, the first candidate to start speaking, emphasized experience and the economy. Candidate Na said, "The population is declining, and young people are leaving. There is a shortage of labor in rural areas, factories, and markets," adding, "I will swiftly resolve the long-standing new airport project and reform so that foreign workers can be paid below minimum wage." This statement was made in relation to the minimum wage being set at 10,030 won that day, aiming to ease the wage burden in production sites and rural areas.
Regarding party-government relations, Na said, "There are people who recklessly use taboo words like party interference and state affairs manipulation just to save themselves," adding, "Such candidates lead to party-government collapse." She continued, "Candidates who blindly follow Yongsan are absolutely unacceptable. I, Na Kyung-won, will speak frankly," emphasizing, "I will correct mistakes made by President Yoon Seok-youl and the government. I will fiercely block impeachment attempts and ensure the success of the Yoon administration."
Furthermore, Na stated, "Our party has shrunk because of factional fights. To prevent lining up and favoritism, a nomination revolution is necessary," and added, "Winning the hearts of the metropolitan area and moderate voters and changing the party can only be done by those who have won, those who have gained, and those who know."
Yoon Sang-hyun: "The conservative limbs are in the metropolitan area... Making Daegu the second Pangyo"
Yoon Sang-hyun, a candidate for party leader, emphasized his experience of winning in the metropolitan area and ways to revive the TK economy. He also highlighted his parents' ties to TK, saying, "The hot blood of Yeongnam flows in my veins." He said, "Yeongnam is the heart of conservatism. However, the conservative limbs are in the metropolitan area," and added, "I, Yoon Sang-hyun, skilled in metropolitan area battles, have thrown my hat in the ring to make the People Power Party a winning party." He continued, "I was advised to do politics here, but I insisted on standing alone politically in the metropolitan area," and "That's how I became a five-term member of the National Assembly in Incheon."
Regarding the TK economy, Yoon said, "As you know, the TK economy is struggling," adding, "I, Yoon Sang-hyun, a son of Uiseong, will revive it. I will complete the TK new airport and TK integration." He emphasized, "In particular, I will make Daegu the second Pangyo based on an artificial intelligence (AI) innovation foundation," and "I will attract high-tech companies to provide stable jobs." He added, "Incheon has the second-largest economy after Seoul," and "Having played a major role in Incheon for 20 years, I will contribute to revitalizing TK."
Han Dong-hoon: "Moved by former President Park warmly welcoming me... Respect for TK citizens"
Han Dong-hoon, a candidate for party leader, appealed to the TK public sentiment by talking about former Presidents Park Chung-hee and Park Geun-hye. Han said, "I respect former President Park Chung-hee's great decision regarding heavy chemical industry. I think it was a great moment that brought South Korea to where it is today," and "I respect the steadfastness of the brilliant politicians of TK. I respect the patriotism of the great TK citizens."
Han added, "During the general election, I traveled across the country until my hands were chapped and my voice was gone. At that time, I often thought of former President Park Geun-hye's bandaged hands that I had seen on TV long ago," and "During the election period, I visited former President Park. She welcomed me so warmly, and I was deeply moved." Furthermore, Han said, "(Former President Park) kindly told me how she used to bandage her hands, how to care for her hands and throat, and how to replenish nutrition with kimbap in the car," adding, "Above all, she gave us great insights and long-standing good advice on resolving the medical strike, which was a major challenge for us at the time. She was a great figure."
Han said, "Regarding running for party leader after just a few months, everyone who loves me said now is not the time. Now is perfect for dying, so come out after things get worse," adding, "Waiting for the storm to pass is not right. Waiting to become a flower blooming next to the yard after the storm has passed is even less right." He continued, "This is a poem called 'Storm' by Jeong Ho-seung, a poet Daegu is proud of," and emphasized, "Now is not the time to wait for the storm to pass. When the storm blows, I will be an umbrella, a shield, and a spear for you." Han's supporters responded with cheers.
Won Hee-ryong: "One who brokers reconciliation with the enemy is a traitor... Must have trust with the president"
In the final order, Won Hee-ryong, a candidate for party leader, took impeachment and traitor as keywords. Won said, "Party members and comrades, how much suffering did former President Park endure due to impeachment?" adding, "For some, it might have been the prime of their lives, but for all of us, it was hell. Impeachment must never happen again." He continued, "The Democratic Party's impeachment train has already departed. Yet foolishly, they still say we must accept the Chae Sang-byeong special prosecutor law," and emphasized, "What is the Chae Sang-byeong special prosecutor? Isn't it just an attempt to find something to impeach the president?"
Won said, "There is a line in the movie The Godfather: if there is someone who brokers reconciliation with the enemy, that person is a traitor," adding, "Party members and comrades, the party leader we elect this time must have trust with the president. They must know the party well, have plenty of experience, and be communicative." This was a claim that there is no trust between candidate Han and President Yoon. He added, "The country is shaken by impeachment threats from suspects of serious crimes," and "When the country is shaken, when the party is in danger, when the president is in trouble, TK members, please protect the party and save the country once again."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
