Despite Warnings from Party Leadership, Harsh Words Exchanged Between Candidates
Some Say It's a Split Convention, Not a Party Convention
The party convention to elect the next leader of the People Power Party is spiraling into chaos, marked not only by verbal attacks among candidates but also by physical confrontations among their supporters. Because of this, some in the political sphere are calling the convention a "split party convention" (Bundangdaehoe).
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 National Assembly Press Photographers Group
On the morning of the 16th, candidates Han Dong-hoon and Won Hee-ryong appeared on Channel A and TV Chosun's YouTube channels respectively, exchanging criticisms of each other. Candidate Han said, "Those who say they want to be party leader are really going around singing," adding, "There are far more impeachment-related articles now than during former President Park Geun-hye's time, and candidates Won and Na Kyung-won are the ones doing it. They should not make irresponsible remarks." Candidate Won responded, "(At yesterday's joint speech event) it seems that slogans opposing candidate Han were shouted, but we do not know whether those were our supporters or supporters of other candidates," and claimed, "I also heard that a YouTuber supporting candidate Han assaulted a YouTuber supporting me."
Despite warnings from the party leadership and the election commission, the candidates' harsh rhetoric continues, and with supporters resorting to violence against each other, some in the political world say it is now too late to shift focus to policy and vision promotion. At the joint speech event held the previous day in Cheonan, Chungnam, involving Daejeon, Sejong, Chungbuk, and Chungnam regions, the event devolved into disruptions of speeches against rival candidates and physical fights among supporters. When Emergency Response Committee Chairman Hwang Woo-yeo and Election Commission Chairman Seo Byung-soo expressed concerns about the overheated competition among supporters and unverified opinion polls, supporters of candidate Han shouted for their withdrawal. During Han's speech, some supporters of other candidates shouted "traitor," clashing with Han's supporters.
Even the candidates' messages urging their supporters to refrain from extreme actions contain direct confrontations against rival candidates. Candidate Han posted on Facebook the previous day, "When I was giving my speech, some supporters of candidate Won loudly shouted 'traitor' at me, disrupting the speech," adding, "Differences of opinion are essential to finding good answers for the people. However, actions that harm or endanger fellow citizens, like today, are absolutely unacceptable." Candidate Won also posted on Facebook, "Violence can never be tolerated under any circumstances," but countered, "However, it is also unacceptable behavior to claim that other candidates are responsible." Candidate Na posted on Facebook the same day, "Yesterday's joint speech event even ended in physical clashes. It is regrettable," and attacked, "The root cause of this tremendous division and collapse lies in candidate Han's very candidacy."
There are also concerns that aftereffects may arise following the convention. After controversies such as the text message scandal involving First Lady Kim Geon-hee and allegations of managing a comment team, the clash among supporters could further divide the party. Park Joon-tae, the People Power Party floor spokesperson, told reporters at the National Assembly that morning, "I think it was very inappropriate in the eyes of the public and party members alike."
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