Hwang Kyo-ahn "I Will Run in a Difficult District in the Capital Area... Senior Members Should Also Step Up"

Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, is speaking at the "National Rally to Create a Hopeful Korea Together with the People" held on the 3rd in front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, is speaking at the "National Rally to Create a Hopeful Korea Together with the People" held on the 3rd in front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, declared that he will run in a challenging district in the Seoul metropolitan area in the general election this April.

At the 'National Rally for Creating a Hopeful Korea' held at Gwanghwamun Square on the 3rd, Hwang said, "If we unite, we win. I will take the lead for integration," and added, "I will run in a difficult district in this year's general election."

Inside and outside the party, there is speculation that he may run in Jongno, known as the "political number one district." This constituency is the district of Jeong Sye-kyun of the Democratic Party of Korea, who has been nominated as the next Prime Minister, and there is talk within the ruling party about Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon possibly running there. If the two, currently ranked first and second in the next presidential candidate polls, face off, a "big match" is expected. However, Hwang did not answer reporters' questions about the specific district he would run in.

Declaring his intention to run in a challenging district, Hwang urged senior party lawmakers to also make sacrifices.

He said, "There are senior lawmakers in our party, and it would be good if they also take on difficult paths," adding, "We need to create space for the younger generation to engage in politics. We need to give young people dreams."

This appears to mean that senior lawmakers who have been relatively easily elected in the Yeongnam region should run with him in challenging districts in the metropolitan area. It is interpreted as also considering former leader Hong Joon-pyo, who declared his candidacy in Yeongnam, and former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Tae-ho, who announced his run in the Sancheong-Hamyang-Geochang-Hapcheon district of Gyeongnam.

Hwang also promised to achieve innovation within the Liberty Korea Party and unification of the broader conservative camp.

He pledged, "I will thoroughly change the Liberty Korea Party, which has many shortcomings. I will innovate," and said, "With about four months left until the general election, during that time we will break down, change, innovate more thoroughly, enter the hearts of the people, win their hearts, and definitely achieve victory."

Hwang continued, "Such a fight requires great unity," and said, "All free right-wing forces who love our country must unite tightly to protect the constitution, liberal democracy, and the market economy. That is integration."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.