Yoo Seung-min Begins Presidential Campaign... "Yoon Seok-yeol, Hong Joon-pyo, and Ahn Cheol-soo All Must Step into the Ring" (Comprehensive)

"Never Considered or Had the Possibility of Running for Seoul Mayor"
"After Next April's By-Election, the Party Should Be Led by Presidential Candidates"

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min is giving a greeting at a press briefing held on the 18th at the 'Hope 22' office in Taeheung Building, Yeouido, Seoul. This press briefing was held about nine months after the press conference for his decision not to run in the general election on February 9th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, who returned to Yeouido after about six months, reaffirmed his intention to run for president in the 2022 election. He stated that he will do his best to win the by-election next year and the presidential election thereafter by winning back the hearts of voters who supported the Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye administrations but turned away after the impeachment. He also said that lawmakers outside the party, such as Hong Joon-pyo and Ahn Cheol-soo, the leader of the People’s Party, should eventually step into the same ring and compete. However, he drew a line regarding the demands for him to run in the Seoul mayoral by-election both inside and outside the party.

◆ "Publicly starting the presidential candidacy journey" = On the morning of the 18th, Yoo held a press conference at his office 'Hope 22' in Yeouido, Seoul, saying, "I have expressed my intention to run for president several times, and I am about to start such efforts," signaling the official start of his presidential campaign. This is the first time he has set up an office that will effectively serve as a presidential campaign headquarters and officially declared his candidacy.

After the 20th National Assembly ended, Yoo had been keeping a low profile but recently opened an office across from the National Assembly. On the 16th, he held an opening ceremony and a debate to announce his political comeback, and on this day, he held a press conference to declare it publicly. Former Minister of Health and Welfare Jin Soo-hee and former lawmaker Min Hyun-joo attended the event to show their support.

Yoo emphasized that regime change is the top priority. He said, "While quietly staying outside, I realized that above all, to change the regime and build a new country, we must ultimately win through democracy and elections," adding, "In the U.S., Americans moved their hearts to oust President Trump and elect Joe Biden, and I firmly believe that in 2022, we must create such a change as well."

Yoo said that the immediate task is to regain the hearts of voters who supported the party but left. He noted, "In the 2012 presidential election, former President Park Geun-hye received 51.6% of the vote, but many of those people turned away after the impeachment. As confirmed in the recent general election, many have still not returned."

Yoo said, "If I have a role after returning to the party, I will do everything to win back their hearts and create hope for victory in next year's by-election and the 2022 presidential election," adding, "What they want is a sound and reformist conservatism that embraces reasonable ideas from the centrist and progressive camps to create a fair society, and there is a strong desire for competent politics."

He continued, "I want to contribute to the emergence of a competent political force that can solve these issues. I want to make the People Power Party a much cleaner and more capable political force than the current Democratic Party," and said, "I will strive to ensure the party moves in the right direction."

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min is giving a greeting at a press conference held on the 18th at the 'Hope 22' office in Taeheung Building, Yeouido, Seoul. This press conference was held for the first time in about nine months since the press conference announcing his decision not to run in the general election on February 9. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

◆ "Yoon Seok-youl, Hong Joon-pyo, Ahn Cheol-soo, those outside the party should eventually step into the same ring" = Yoo said that so-called presidential candidates currently outside the People Power Party must eventually compete together and produce a single candidate.

Regarding Hong’s reinstatement to the party, he said the timing is up to the party leadership but added, "He ran as the Liberty Korea Party candidate in the 2017 presidential election and received 24% of the vote. He still has presidential ambitions and can be broadly considered part of the moderate conservative camp," adding, "As we approach the presidential election, I hope he steps into the ring to compete together and accept the results."

Regarding Ahn’s proposal for an opposition innovation platform, Yoo said, "For victory, it is better for the People Power Party to open all doors and unite under fair rules acceptable to them," but added, "If the platform does not exclude anyone and means fierce and fair competition in the same ring, I have no reason to oppose it."

On Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl being mentioned as a leading opposition presidential candidate, Yoo said, "I think Yoon is currently in the stage of deep contemplation about whether to enter politics," adding, "If he decides to enter politics, I hope he steps into the same ring. The People Power Party should have no reason to block him and must be open."

◆ "In my 21 years as a politician, I have never considered running for Seoul mayor, and I will not in the future" = Yoo firmly drew a line regarding calls from inside and outside the party for him to run for Seoul mayor. He said, "In my 21 years as a politician, I have never once considered running for Seoul mayor. Suddenly, because a by-election has arisen for such an important position responsible for the daily lives of 10 million Seoul citizens, I should run? I have never done politics that way," adding, "I think it is right to clearly say no."

Yoo said, "As a party member, I will always play a role in helping and supporting the creation of a really good candidate who can surely win the Seoul mayoral election," and expressed support, saying, "I do not agree with the atmosphere that underestimates those in our party who say they want to become Seoul mayor." He added, "The ruling party’s candidate is a Democratic Party lawmaker or a current minister, but what great honor is it to have been a minister under the Moon Jae-in administration?" He emphasized, "We should not have an inferiority complex that 'our candidate cannot win.' My role is to find the best candidate the people want, including some fresh first-term Seoul lawmakers within the party, and persuade them to participate in the primary."

Regarding former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, who left the Democratic Party, Yoo said, "He must have had his reasons when leaving the Democratic Party, and the options are obvious," adding, "How about Geum joining us and competing together? It depends on his decision, but I hope a primary rule acceptable to such people is established."

Yoo added, "Winning elections depends partly on how well we do and partly on how poorly the opponent does," and said, "In this Seoul mayoral by-election and the next presidential election, it is clear that the opponent will perform poorly, so ultimately, it depends on how well we can do. It is a fight with ourselves."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ "I support Kim Jong-in’s apology for MB and Park... I hope TK voters also have the will to govern" = Yoo supported People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in’s recent announcement that he will apologize soon regarding the two former presidents, saying, "If the people demand it, to win the hearts of the people, I can apologize not once but ten or twenty times," and predicted, "It will not end with a simple apology for the past but will include how we plan to move forward."

Regarding criticism that hardline conservatives opposing impeachment and Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) voters remain unfriendly to him, Yoo said, "I plan to first seek reconciliation with them on a human level," adding, "My thoughts on impeachment have not changed at all, but whether they supported or opposed it, we must move beyond it," and urged, "I hope they also have the will to govern and come forward." He emphasized, "If we keep shooting at each other and dividing over impeachment, we will never win back the hearts of voters who supported Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye but turned away."

Regarding differing opinions within the party on policies such as the three economic laws and labor reform, Yoo said, "It is important to have a process of reaching conclusions despite differences in thought." He lamented, "It is unfortunate that there is no active internal party debate, no process of narrowing differences, no acceptance of results, or respect for personal convictions," and said, "I plan to ask Chairman Kim to participate as much as possible in party meetings. If we debate fiercely, we can clearly and confidently express our position to the people in the party’s name."

On the party’s direction after the by-election in April next year, Yoo said, "After April, the issue is the separation of presidential and party leadership. According to party rules, a new party leader must be elected, but until the presidential election, the party must be run centered on the presidential candidate," adding, "Whatever system is used, it is important that the presidential candidate and party leader act as one."

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