Shin Dongwook of Opposition Declares Supreme Council Bid: "Reigniting the Heart of Conservatism"

Shin Dongwook: "I Will Rekindle the Heart of Conservatism"
Jang Donghyuk and Joo Jinwoo: "Thank You and We Support You"

On July 31, first-term lawmaker Shin Dongwook of the People Power Party declared his candidacy for the Supreme Council election at the party convention, stating, "I will reignite the cooling heart of conservatism."

That afternoon, at a press conference in the National Assembly's communication center, Shin said, "If you elect me as a Supreme Council member, I will raise the flag of the People Power Party and the reconstruction of conservatism together with you."

Dongwook Shin, People Power Party lawmaker

Shin stated, "The desperate party approval ratings already show that many people have turned away from us. There is no room for excuses," and added, "If we lack the will and ability to change ourselves, we are in a dire situation where we have no choice but to change by force. As a member of the People Power Party, I deeply bow my head and apologize for failing to prevent this situation."

He continued, "Feelings of defeat and helplessness are engulfing all of us, but we cannot simply sit down and give up because it is difficult," emphasizing, "We cannot bury our heads in the sand and turn away from the historic responsibility that the people and our party members have entrusted to us."

He went on to say, "This party convention will be a crucial event that will determine the future and survival of the People Power Party and the conservative camp. Above all, the new leadership must lead the party to victory in next year's local elections."

Regarding the calls for reform and personnel reshuffling among party leader candidates, he pointed out, "Shooting arrows at comrades heading into battle is being packaged as 'innovation,' but it is actually fueling division within the party," and stressed, "Such innovation can never achieve unity."

Shin emphasized, "Even elementary school students know that if you fight without uniting, you are bound to lose," and added, "At the same time, it is clear that unity is impossible without painful internal reform through reflection and introspection."

Targeting President Lee Jaemyung, he said, "If things were normal, he would already be in prison," and explained, "A leadership capable of sweeping away the defeatism that pervades the party and reorganizing our ranks for the fight against the ruling party must be elected at this party convention."

Shin's declaration of candidacy was welcomed by other party leadership contenders.

Jang Donghyuk, a lawmaker running for party leader, expressed his support on Facebook, saying, "I thank and encourage lawmaker Shin Dongwook for stepping forward in these difficult times that determine the fate of our party," and added, "I hope more lawmakers will join the path of innovation."

Lawmaker Joo Jinwoo also said, "I deeply thank lawmaker Shin Dongwook for deciding to run for Supreme Council member in these challenging times," and added, "The younger lawmakers in the first- and second-term group should raise their voices even more."