Three Different Approaches by Ruling Party Candidates to Win Votes in Gwangju

Woo Won-sik "Minsheng" vs Song Young-gil "Innovation" vs Hong Young-pyo "Reform"

Candidates Hong Young-pyo, Song Young-gil, and Woo Won-shik (from left) running for the Democratic Party of Korea leadership election are taking a commemorative photo at the joint speech meeting for the Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Jeju regions held on the 20th at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Gwan-woo] On the 20th, the Democratic Party of Korea's party leader candidates visited Gwangju and competed to win the votes of Honam and Jeju regions.

On the same day in the morning, the Democratic Party held a joint speech meeting for the Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Jeju regions at the Gwangju Kim Dae-jung Convention Center.

In the preliminary primary vote held on the 18th, the Democratic Party's May 2nd party leader election was finalized as a three-way race among candidates Hong Young-pyo, Song Young-gil, and Woo Won-shik.

The three party leadership candidates visited Gwangju, the party's stronghold, as the first schedule of their regional joint speech tour.

The speeches proceeded in the order determined by a prior draw: Woo Won-shik, Song Young-gil, and Hong Young-pyo.

Candidate Woo Won-shik repeatedly emphasized ‘livelihood.’ In his speech, Woo cited polarization, COVID-19, soaring real estate prices, and the LH scandal as the causes of the Democratic Party's defeat in the April 7 by-elections, placing emphasis on addressing livelihood issues directly connected to the people's lives.

Woo pledged, “I will go into the people, into the field, and achieve livelihood innovation by aligning with the people's perspective.”

Candidate Song Young-gil stated that the Democratic Party must not fall into being a so-called ‘old-fashioned party’ and put forward ‘innovation’ as the key word of his speech.

Song said, “The party stands at a critical crossroads whether to change or continue by inertia,” adding, “I will innovate with the attitude of changing everything except the name.”

Candidate Hong Young-pyo appealed for support through reform and responsible party politics.

Hong said, “We will be reborn through reform together with the people,” and added, “It is not only the party that needs fixing but also the relationship between the party and the government. We will achieve responsible party politics that restore the party from the periphery to the center of politics.”

He described responsible party politics as the ‘path to take’ to lead fundamental innovation of the Democratic Party. Hong emphasized, “We will establish the 4th Democratic Party government through fundamental innovation by responsible party politics, such as building a system where policies made by the party are accepted and executed by the government, and government personnel decisions are made in close consultation with the party”.

All three candidates voiced the same opinion on completing the current administration's national agenda and the mission of regime re-creation.

They also promised to resolve local issues in Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Jeju, including the relocation of Gwangju military airport, appealing to voters.

At the site, speeches by seven candidates for the Democratic Party's Supreme Council were also held.

The next party leader and Supreme Council members of the Democratic Party will be decided at the party convention held on the 2nd of next month.

Meanwhile, Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop, and lawmakers Lee Yong-bin, Kim Hee-jae, and Shin Jeong-hoon attended the joint speech meeting as guests.

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