"Kim Moon-soo's life is not fit for the presidency"
"Han Dong-hoon has taken a reasonable path"
Former Democratic Party lawmaker Woo Sang-ho evaluated that if an early presidential election is held, the easiest opponent for the Democratic Party would be Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo. He named Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon as the toughest candidate.
Former Democratic Party lawmaker Woo Sang-ho evaluated Kim Moon-soo, Minister of Employment and Labor, and Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul, who are mentioned as ruling party candidates in the event of an early presidential election.
In an interview with YTN Radio on the afternoon of the 31st of last month, Woo was asked about People Power Party emergency committee chairman Kwon Young-se's attack on Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, who mentioned the "black cat, white cat" theory, saying, "As long as you catch the rat well, it doesn't matter whether it's a black cat, white cat, or gray cat," and Woo responded, "You can't entrust fish to a cat, whether black or white."
Leader Lee has cited the "black cat, white cat" theory several times in the past, revealing his pragmatic side. It has often been used as an expression emphasizing post-ideology and post-factionalism, shedding the colorism imposed on him. This is interpreted as a move to attract moderate and conservative voters ahead of the early presidential election phase.
Former lawmaker Woo said, "It's a coined attack to counter the black cat, white cat theory, but does that mean Korea is a fish market and the Korean people are fish?" He added, "I understand the intention to use a metaphor to emphasize 'Lee Jae-myung is no good,' but the expression should be used carefully."
Regarding the situation where Minister Kim Moon-soo, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, and former representative Han Dong-hoon are being mentioned as likely candidates for the People Power Party in the early presidential election, Woo said, "Minister Kim Moon-soo opposed the impeachment of Park Geun-hye and did not stand up when former cabinet members apologized this time, so the conservative base seems to have seen him as a resolute conservative leader." He added, "From our perspective, if Minister Kim becomes a presidential candidate, he would be an easy opponent," evaluating that "his life experience does not qualify him as a presidential candidate." He explained, "He cannot be seen as a stable candidate, having shifted from far-left to far-right, moving from Gyeonggi Province governor to Daegu and then to Seoul."
On the other hand, he named Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon as the most difficult opponent. "The reason candidate Lee Jae-myung lost by 0.74 percentage points in the last 20th presidential election was Seoul. Since winning in Seoul is essential to winning this election, from that perspective, former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is the most competitive candidate from the ruling party," he said.
Regarding Han Dong-hoon, he said, "He is a regrettable figure," adding, "Although his tone seemed rude, from our point of view, he has taken a relatively reasonable path. Will the election be fought only with the far-right Taegeukgi faction? From that perspective, there will definitely be an election phase where Han Dong-hoon's utility is confirmed, and I expect him to appear at that time."
On the other hand, about Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, he said, "There is not much to say."
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