Gong Byeong-ho "Will Accept 4 Requests for Reconsideration from the Supreme Council... Han Seon-gyo Likely to Leave Politics in May" (Summary)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Gong Byung-ho, the Future Korea Party's nomination management committee chairman, announced that he has decided to accept four out of the five reconsideration requests made by the Future Korea Party's Supreme Council. However, the number one proportional representative candidate, former Dong-A Ilbo editorial writer Cho Su-jin, will remain unchanged. Former Independence Hall director Yoon Joo-kyung, Choi Seung-jae, president of the Small Business Federation, and Lee Jong-sung, former secretary-general of the Korea Disabled Persons Association, are expected to be placed within the winning ranks. Han Seon-gyo, the Future Korea Party leader, reportedly expressed his intention to leave politics around May, after the general election.

On the 19th, Gong appeared on KBS Radio's 'Kim Kyung-rae's Strongest Current Affairs' and said, "There were about five requests from the Supreme Council, and we decided to accept about four of them." He added, "Four people will be replaced within the winning ranks. Number three, former Independence Hall director Yoon Joo-kyung is certain, and the others will be confirmed this afternoon after the Supreme Council meeting."

He also appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that day and revealed that Chairman Choi and Secretary-General Lee would also be placed within the winning ranks. Kwon Ae-young, former Jeonnam Provincial Party Committee chairperson of the Liberty Korea Party, who faced allegations of employment fraud and academic forgery, was eliminated. Meanwhile, Shin Dong-ho, former MBC announcer director who was suspected of being involved in the MBC blacklist, will maintain his position on the list.

Gong explained the reason for accepting the reconsideration requests, saying, "The content of the requests was concrete and understandable, so we discussed from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m." He added, "Some requests were reasonable, but the Future United Party opposed them, causing public opinion to worsen, and more importantly, the public was uneasy," explaining why the revision requests were accepted.

Regarding criticism that the scale of acceptance was smaller than the Future United Party expected, he said, "Although four people may seem few, about 20% of the 20 members of the Future Korea Party's nomination management committee worked together to revise and supplement the list." He added, "How Representative Hwang Kyo-ahn will react is a political decision, so I will leave that to him, but the election is about 28 days away, so there is not much time left."

There are also talks that Leader Han might take an independent path without merging with the Future United Party even after the general election due to this nomination controversy. Gong responded, "It seems that Leader Han Seon-gyo will completely leave," adding, "From private conversations, although I cannot be 100% sure of his intentions, it appears he plans to completely leave the political world in May."

Gong said the nomination controversy was to form a proportional representative group suitable for a 'wartime situation.' He explained, "The talents selected by the Future United Party are prominent figures in each field, but we view the next four years not as a peaceful era but as a wartime situation, so we decided to place young and combat-ready people at the forefront."

He emphasized that former editorial writer Cho, who received the number one proportional representative spot, would not be replaced to preserve this purpose. When asked if Cho was a strong combatant, Gong replied, "Yes," and said, "There was discussion about the number one spot, but our nomination philosophy aims to raise the opposition's voice against the ruling party, so we decided to keep former editorial writer Cho."

Regarding the controversy over placing lawyer Kim Jeong-hyun, who has only one year of legal experience, at number five, Gong said, "The most important concept of the nomination was youth and combat power against the ruling party, so it will be maintained." He added, "I saw him dominate senior lawyers with 20-30 years of legal experience in a debate room at Seoul Science High School regarding Cho Kuk, and I judged that if given a chance, he could demonstrate abilities not only in legal debates but also in regulatory reform."

On concerns that the National Assembly might become a 'battleground,' he emphasized, "There is much public opinion that skills are not being demonstrated and that blocking bills is too weak. Looking at this lineup, many people who have been active in civic organizations and are good speakers have been appointed."

Meanwhile, the Protestant civic group 'Peace Tree' filed a complaint with the Election Commission on the 18th against Future United Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn, talent recruitment committee chairman Yeom Dong-ryeol, and co-campaign committee chairman Park Hyung-joon for violating the Public Official Election Act. Gong commented, "We must be very careful with election laws. Even when speaking, we must be cautious not to say we support them or received orders from them. Judging from the statements reported in the newspapers this time, it seems those careful boundaries were crossed."

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