Kim Du-kwan: "A Commander Who Runs Away Can Lose to Soldiers... Welcome Hong Joon-pyo"

Kim Doo-kwan, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Kim Du-kwan, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, sharply criticized former Liberty Korea Party leader Hong Joon-pyo's indication that he would run in Yangsan-eul, Gyeongnam, saying, "I hope the fleeing general keeps in mind that he can be defeated by the soldiers who support him."

On the 13th, Kim appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said, "Previously, former leader Hong called himself the 'defense captain protecting PK (Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongnam)' and said he 'does not fight with soldiers.' So I said, 'Since I came to PK to serve as a white-clad soldier, and you are the defense captain, let's have a fair competition,'" expressing his view.

When asked if he expected former leader Hong to run in Yangsan-eul, Kim said, "I judged it was a place he could definitely come to," adding, "I once said, 'When the king flees, the subjects are thrown into confusion.' Representative Hwang Kyo-ahn hesitated and was pushed to run in Jongno, and it seems former leader Hong also stuck to running in his comfortable hometown but was compelled to choose Yangsan-eul, where I am, instead of the difficult metropolitan area."

He also said, "I have never once shied away from difficult situations," and "I don't know what decision the Liberty Korea Party will make, but if former leader Hong comes to (Gyeongnam Yangsan-eul), I will put up a good fight."

Regarding former leader Hong's repeated intention to run in Gyeongnam despite requests to run in a tough metropolitan district, Kim said, "Except for the three Gangnam districts, isn't the metropolitan area close to a tough district for the Liberty Korea Party?" He added, "The Liberty Korea Party requested former leader Hong and former Governor Kim Tae-ho to run in tough metropolitan districts as part of their plan to perform well in the metropolitan area along the Han River belt, but due to various circumstances, one of them will probably go to Changwon Seongsan, and the other will come to our Yangsan-eul."

Regarding the opinion that former Governor Kim might run in Yangsan-eul, Kim said, "Whether Governor Kim or former leader Hong comes, I welcome it. I want to have a policy competition focusing on the development of Yangsan, Gyeongnam, and, more broadly, the future of Korean politics."

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