Hong Joonpyo: "Actively Embracing Mayor Oh's Key Themes"
An Cheolsoo: "'Walking with the Vulnerable' Is Essential for Rebuilding the Party"
Pro-Han Faction Lawmakers Including Bae Hyunjin and Park Junghoon Also Offer Support
On April 12, following Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon's announcement that he would not run in the presidential election, presidential contenders and lawmakers within the party continued to offer words of encouragement to him.
Hong Joonpyo, former mayor of Daegu and a presidential candidate, wrote on Facebook, "Mayor Oh's decision not to run for president is a response to the concerns of Seoul citizens and a demonstration of loyalty to our party. Together with Mayor Oh, I will strive to realize the dream of 'Rebuilding the Nation' and create an entirely new country."
Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon is entering the press conference room at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the 12th to announce his withdrawal from the presidential race. Photo by Yonhap News
Hong also stated, "The themes Mayor Oh mentioned-'Growth Again' and 'Walking with the Vulnerable'-will be actively embraced and reflected in future governance."
An Cheolsoo, another presidential hopeful, also posted on Facebook, saying, "Mayor Oh's decision fills me with solemn respect. I hope he will continue to play a significant role in ensuring victory in the presidential election and rebuilding our party."
An added, "This is a sacrifice and a profound message for the party to rise again from its current pain. The value of 'walking with the vulnerable' will become an essential core value for the party's reconstruction."
Bae Hyunjin, a lawmaker aligned with the pro-Han Donghoon faction, commented, "As someone who was considered a leading candidate in the ruling bloc, I can only imagine how many sleepless nights Mayor Oh endured before making this decision. As a colleague, I feel sympathy for him. I believe the public will highly appreciate Mayor Oh's decision to uphold his responsibilities and duties."
Bae went on to criticize other local government heads within the party who are presidential contenders, saying, "At a time when we should be comforting and supporting citizens struggling with the hardships of daily life, it has been disappointing and heartbreaking to see several individuals treat their positions as local government leaders lightly, as if they were merely opportunities to 'scale up' their political stature, even before completing their terms."
Park Junghoon, another lawmaker from the pro-Han faction, also said, "I express deep respect for Mayor Oh's decision and his candid advice for the party. How can our party ask the people for their votes without sincere reflection, when we have failed to properly check the government when it headed in the wrong direction? Only by drawing a clear line from past mistakes and nominating a clean, future-oriented candidate can we even begin to justify asking for the people's support."
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