Joint Campaign Speech in Daegu and North Gyeongsang
Jeon Hangil Appears... Shouting and Physical Clashes Erupt
Kim Moonsoo, former Minister of Employment and Labor, and Jang Donghyuk, a member of the National Assembly, both representing the anti-impeachment faction and running for the People Power Party leadership election, declared at the first joint campaign speech on August 8 that they would fight against the Lee Jaemyung administration through unity without division. Meanwhile, Cho Kyungtae and Ahn Cheolsoo, lawmakers from the pro-impeachment faction, emphasized their determination to sever ties with the Yoon Again group and pursue personnel reform.
At the 6th National Convention joint campaign speech held at EXCO in Buk-gu, Daegu, Jang said, "A former president has been imprisoned again and is suffering human rights abuses, but all we hear is talk about severing ties out of fear of being labeled as rebels. I will put an end to further division and bring Lee Jaemyung back to the courtroom."
He listed the party's crises, including the impeachment of the president, attempts to replace the presidential candidate, and defeat in the presidential election, and bowed his head, saying, "Members gave us the power to defend the president, but because we failed to unite, we ourselves opened the door to impeachment twice."
Criticizing internal division, he also stressed the need for conservative unity. Jang said, "What is even more shameful is that those who opened the door to impeachment themselves are now loudly calling the members who opposed impeachment 'far-right' and 'targets for reform.' I will not be intimidated by false agitation and will fight back," he declared.
On stage, former Minister Kim made a deep bow to party members and asserted that he was the right person to fight against the Lee Jaemyung administration. He said, "Just two months after the Lee Jaemyung administration took power, democracy in our country has collapsed," and proposed to President Lee Jaemyung, "Let's hold a public, no-holds-barred debate on whether it is the Democratic Party or the People Power Party that should be dissolved."
He continued, "If our party's 107 lawmakers are divided, the constitutional amendment blocking line will collapse, and President Lee Jaemyung will seek long-term rule through a 'four-year consecutive term constitutional amendment.' The party must unite internally and fight vigorously against the Democratic Party," he insisted. Regarding the Democratic Party's proposal of a Special Law on Insurrection, he retorted, "If the People Power Party is dissolved, won't the Democratic Party become a one-party dictatorship?"
Cho Kyungtae pledged, "I will complete reform with the determination of cutting off one's own flesh for the greater good." He pointed out, "Due to the unconstitutional and illegal 12·3 martial law, the People Power Party is facing a devastating moment, almost to the point of dissolution. The more we oppose impeachment, spread conspiracy theories about election fraud, and invite Yoon Again, the more our approval ratings plummet." He added, "Our party still has not come to its senses. A party that is abandoned by the people can never come to power. Such a party has no reason to exist."
He also promised to relocate the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to Daegu and North Gyeongsang, establish a 100% personnel reform committee representing the people, and form a youth autonomous policy committee.
Ahn Cheolsoo strongly criticized, "Those who called the unconstitutional martial law an enlightenment order and abandoned the presidency, those who, despite the unanimous impeachment ruling by the Constitutional Court, still discard the rule of law?a core conservative value?and continue to follow Yoon Again, and lawmakers who, even amid the chaos of the presidential candidate replacement, claim to be innocent, these people come to Daegu and North Gyeongsang, the heart of conservatism, and act as if they are entitled to votes. This is an insult to the party members of Daegu and North Gyeongsang."
He added, "Please ensure that this underlying belief?'No matter what extremists do, Daegu and North Gyeongsang will support them'?is judged at this convention." He continued, "I have entered this race looking only to the party members and the people, without being swayed at all by extremist agitators or a handful of factional forces. Just as I risked my life with my wife to come to Daegu for COVID-19 medical volunteer work, I will save the party with unwavering sincerity."
Meanwhile, at the campaign venue, supporters fiercely criticized each other, exposing the division between the pro-impeachment and anti-impeachment camps. Jeon Hangil, publisher of Jeon Hangil News, who was seated in the press area, applauded and shouted "Well done!" during speeches by anti-impeachment candidates, but shouted "Traitor!" when pro-impeachment candidates took the stage.
During a speech by Kim Geunsik, a candidate for Supreme Council member known for his reformist stance, Jeon Hangil became enraged, saying, "Kim Geunsik is criticizing me," and ran toward the party member section, encouraging supporters to shout "Traitor!" in unison. In response, supporters of Cho Kyungtae and Ahn Cheolsoo threw water bottles at Jeon, escalating the confrontation.
Starting in Daegu and North Gyeongsang on this day, the People Power Party will continue joint campaign speeches in Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang on the 12th, Chungcheong and Honam on the 13th, and the Seoul metropolitan area, Gangwon, and Jeju on the 14th. The party leader candidate broadcast debates will be held on the 10th, 17th, and 19th. The main election will be held on the 20th and 21st, with 80% of the result determined by voting among responsible party members and 20% by public opinion polls. The final result will be announced at the party convention in Osco, Cheongju, North Chungcheong, on the 22nd. If no candidate receives a majority, a runoff between the top two candidates will be held on the 24th and 25th.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
