Intra-party 'Faction Debate' with Ha Tae-kyung Claiming to Be Part of the 'Lee Jun-seok Faction'..."Petty Stigmatization by Senior Members"

Published 27 May.2021 08:02(KST)

Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, is holding a press conference on Seoul's real estate policy at the National Assembly Communication Office on March 8. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, recently criticized senior party members regarding the internal 'factional dispute,' calling it "a direct betrayal of party members and supporters who wish for victory in the presidential election, as well as the 2030 generation who have shown interest in the conservative party for the first time in decades."

On the 27th, Ha posted on his Facebook, "Why are those called senior members causing trouble with nonsense when they should be grateful for the precious opportunity given by the people?" he criticized.

He pointed out, "Suddenly, the 'factional controversy' peppered the party convention, which was going well in a festive mood," adding, "The essence of the situation is simple. It is nothing more and nothing less than the petty stigmatization by so-called 'seniors.'"

He raised his voice, saying, "They are dragging up factions buried in the grave just to defeat the 35-year-old youth Lee Jun-seok, turning the long-awaited festive event into a muddy mess."

He continued, "Be ashamed. The new wave at our party convention was created by the people," emphasizing, "Can’t you see this amazing scene where table tennis hero Yoo Seung-min, not People Power Party’s Yoo Seung-min, publicly supports Lee Jun-seok? Has there ever been such a day in our party’s history?"

Ha said, "If you try to block the tide of change with your palm, what will happen next is a great disaster where everyone is swept away and drowned," and criticized, "Polluting this huge social phenomenon with petty factional politics is a direct betrayal of party members and supporters who wish for presidential victory, and the 2030 generation who have shown interest in the conservative party for the first time in decades."

He also said, "Lee Jun-seok is 'Yoo Seung-min faction' and will ruin the presidential election? Then let’s create an 'Lee Jun-seok faction' in this case," and declared, "From today, Ha Tae-kyung will be the 'Lee Jun-seok faction.' If you are seniors, I hope you compete fairly with skill against skill."

This statement is interpreted as being conscious of the recent atmosphere within the party, where the 'pro-Park faction' and 'Yoo Seung-min faction' have been engaged in a tense standoff.

On the 25th, the People Power Party's first national convention was held at Nurikkum Square in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Candidate Na Kyung-won, running for party leader, is presenting her vision.

Former People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won posted on her Facebook on the morning of the 26th, "If a party leader from a specific faction is elected, will Yoon Seok-youl (former Prosecutor General) and Ahn Cheol-soo (People’s Party leader) really come?" She added, "If the party leader is perceived as belonging to a specific faction or supporting a particular candidate, it will be difficult for the People Power Party to gain trust from all presidential candidates," calling it a "sure path to losing power."

In response, lawmakers classified as the 'Yoo Seung-min faction' immediately rebutted. Kim Woong, a People Power Party lawmaker, directly attacked, "Is it possible to have a melting pot politics after attacking juniors by bringing up a faction that doesn’t even exist? The claim of factional politics is like saying 'I saw a ghost in a haunted house.'"

Former Supreme Council member of the People Power Party Lee Jun-seok also responded, "I agree with candidate Na’s remarks. No matter how much I think about it, if candidate Na, who is fully supported by the old pro-Park faction, becomes the leader, former Prosecutor General Yoon will hesitate considerably."