Sohn Hak-kyu: "Ahn Cheol-soo, Greatly Disappointed... Is It Right for a Party to Only Nominate Proportional Representatives?" (Comprehensive)

General Election Goal is to Form a Parliamentary Negotiation Group
"While Criticism of Moon Jae-in is Natural, What Has the Main Opposition Party Done?"
Regarding Controversy Over Proportional Representation No. 2, "I Apologize"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Sohn Hak-kyu, the Standing Election Countermeasures Committee Chair of the Minsaeng Party, criticized Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, on the 3rd, saying, “Is a party that only fields proportional representation candidates without any district candidates even a party?” and called it “a fundamental denial of parliamentary democracy.”

At a discussion hosted by the Korea Broadcasting Journalists Club that afternoon, Chairman Sohn said, “The leader of a party that did not even field district candidates is running a solo marathon asking the people for votes.”

Regarding his refusal to accept Ahn’s demand for an emergency committee during the Bareunmirae Party days, Sohn said, “I was very disappointed in Ahn. I thought Ahn would develop the party into a proper centrist party since Representative Yoo Seung-min left,” adding, “I worked so hard to protect the party, but I didn’t even get a phone call. Even when we met a week after returning to the country, he didn’t say a word of thanks. Is this political ethics?”

About the Democratic Party of Korea and the United Future Party, he said, “The two major parties have created satellite proportional parties to turn the National Assembly into a battlefield again,” and criticized, “Some parties are mocking the people by appointing self-proclaimed technicians who switch between parties as election committee chairs to win elections. Politics has become a comedy. It’s a bitter black comedy.”

He continued, “We must vote for parties that field both district and proportional representation candidates. Only then can democracy survive,” emphasizing, “Politics must change. We must end the fighting politics of the two major parties and shift to a multi-party coalition politics and a working politics.”

Regarding the general election goal, Sohn said, “I believe in the power of the people,” and added, “Therefore, I think we can definitely form a parliamentary negotiation group.”

On the issue of regime judgment, he said, “It is natural to go with the ‘Moon Jae-in judgment theory’ in this general election due to this administration’s economic policies and security failures,” but also pointed out, “But what has the main opposition party done? What can you expect from a party where Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the United Future Party, fasts, shaves his head, stages tent protests, causes nomination turmoil, and only fights?”

Regarding the controversy over being number 2 on the proportional representation list, Sohn honestly admitted, “I admit it frankly. If I had refused until the end, how could I have gotten number 2? I am sorry,” and explained, “After refusing several times and carefully considering, I decided to run despite all the criticism to lead the constitutional amendment movement.”

Sohn stated, “It’s not about the tyranny of the two major parties, but about negotiating, compromising, and agreeing among various parties to lead the government,” and added, “That’s why a multi-party system is necessary, and the mixed-member proportional representation system is the start.”

He concluded, “I will stand at the center of the third zone and walk the path of practical centrism,” and said, “It’s neither number 1 nor number 2. Please choose Minsaeng Party, number 3, which is solely for the people’s livelihood.”

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