Mapo Forum Becomes Yeo Party's Presidential Platform... Won Hee-ryong 'Officially Declares Presidential Bid'

Kang Seok-ho "I Will Risk Everything to Recreate a Conservative Government"
Kim Moo-sung "Who Could Be Worse Than Moon Jae-in?"
Won Hee-ryong "I Want to Compete as Our Team's Representative"
Oh Se-hoon, Yoo Seung-min, and Ahn Cheol-soo Also Soon to Be Speakers

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] 'Towards a Better World' (Mapo Forum) has officially begun its role as an opposition presidential platform, starting with a lecture by Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong. The Mapo Forum is a gathering led by former lawmaker Kim Moo-sung, who calls himself a 'kingmaker,' with participation from about 60 current and former members of the People Power Party. Following Governor Won, they will invite former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon (on the 22nd), former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min (early next month), and Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party (on the 12th of next month) to attend lectures.

Kang Seok-ho, former lawmaker and co-representative of the Mapo Forum, stated on the afternoon of the 15th, “A better world is a group that supports conservative right-wing forces and the People Power Party, and we are willing to stake everything on our ultimate goal of recreating the next conservative government.” He added, “A team without a cleanup hitter cannot win by just expanding the field. A soccer team without a striker with goal-scoring ability cannot win. We must find candidates for president, Seoul mayor, and Busan mayor.”

Former lawmaker Kim, speaking to reporters immediately after Governor Won’s lecture, sharply targeted President Moon Jae-in, saying, “Among the candidates currently mentioned within the party, who could be worse than Moon Jae-in, who is ruining our country?” He continued, “Many say our party lacks people, but I don’t think so at all. When the real competition begins, a star will emerge.” He emphasized, “What is important for presidential candidates is a strong will to become president and save the country from its dire situation. Due to various circumstances, our party’s candidates have not shown this, but I hope today marks a good opportunity for them to actively express their will.”

Governor Won officially declared his presidential bid, saying, “I have run in five elections as a member of the National Assembly and governor, and as long as the party nominates me, I have never lost to the Democratic Party. I want to go out as the representative player of our team.” He outlined three options for the ruling strategy: ▲consolidation of conservatives ▲centrists opposing Moon ▲integration of conservatives and centrists, emphasizing that only the Won Hee-ryong model (conservative-centrist integration) can bring victory.

Governor Won explained, “The first method (consolidation of conservatives) will lose again. It does not recognize centrists, so there is no expansion. The second method (centrists opposing Moon) is subtraction; it does not recognize conservatives, so it cannot create a bigger whole.” He added, “The Won Hee-ryong model is addition. 1+1, aiming for a better Republic of Korea by uniting centrists and conservatives.”

He also said, “I am free from negative frames, and opponents cannot catch me on past issues, morality, or offensive remarks.” He continued, “There is a story. I am confident I won’t be outdone in stories like being a ‘dirt spoon’ or a ‘dragon from a small stream.’ I am not at all behind the Democratic Party candidates currently mentioned in terms of democratization movements. Being from Jeju Island, I am confident I can embrace Jeolla, Gyeongsang, and Chungcheong provinces as one.”

Regarding next year’s Seoul mayoral by-election, Governor Won said, “The party’s strength and base in the Seoul area are in a very difficult situation. If the election is held now, it will be very difficult.” He added, “The party must show signs of change and allow more citizens to participate in candidate selection. To do that, we need to create rules that enable good candidates to participate regardless of inside or outside the party.”

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