Yoon Seok-yeol Targets 'Reelection', Choi Jae-hyung Aims for 'First Term'

Yoon Seok-yeol Holds Meeting with Reelected Lawmakers as First Schedule After Vacation
Choi Jae-hyung Strengthens Position by Appearing on 'Myeongbulheojeon Bosuda,' a Gathering of First-Term Lawmakers

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, is giving a greeting at a meeting with re-elected members of the People Power Party held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 11th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Boryeong Geum] Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol and former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung visited the National Assembly on the 11th to strengthen their connections with second-term and first-term lawmakers, respectively.

Former Prosecutor General Yoon held a meeting with second-term lawmakers on the morning of the day as his first schedule after returning from vacation. Having had ongoing discord with the party leadership, including People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok and the primary preparation committee, he is expected to seek a turnaround in atmosphere through meeting with second-term lawmakers who play a central role in the party. In his opening remarks at the meeting, Yoon said, "Second-term lawmakers play a pivotal role in the operation of the National Assembly," adding, "I, along with the public, have witnessed the fierce struggles they have endured on the front lines of the Assembly, and I want to express my gratitude and condolences for their hard work." Since joining the People Power Party, Yoon has maintained a friendly relationship with second-term lawmakers. On the 3rd, he also had a 'lightning lunch' with second-term lawmakers Park Sung-joong, Song Seok-jun, and Lee Man-hee. Among the nine incumbent People Power Party lawmakers who joined Yoon's 'People's Camp,' three are second-term lawmakers (Yoon Han-hong, Lee Cheol-gyu, and Jung Jeom-sik).

Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, is greeting attending lawmakers at the People Power Party's first-term lawmakers' meeting "Myeongbulheojeon Conservative Season 5" held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 11th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

On the same day, former Chairman Choi solidified his position by appearing at the People Power Party's first-term lawmakers' gathering called 'Myeongbulheojeon Bosuda' (True to Its Name, Conservative). First-term lawmakers make up the largest portion of the party with 57 out of 104 members. Except for Park Dae-chul and Cho Hae-jin, all nine incumbent lawmakers active in Choi’s camp are first-term lawmakers. In a lecture titled 'Choi Jae-hyung's Choice and the Role of the President,' he pledged, "I will be a president who works together with the National Assembly," promising to be "a president who deliberates and persuades together, sometimes is persuaded and makes concessions, and fulfills the role of unifying by gathering public opinion," thereby committing to a strong relationship with the Assembly.

During a Q&A session with lawmakers, he revealed an unexpected side by mentioning that his MBTI personality type was 'a free-spirited entertainer.' He said, "My free spirit has not yet been fully expressed, but if you look forward to it, it will gradually come out," maintaining a gentle atmosphere. When asked about what he told his sons when they were struggling, he said, "(My son) said, 'When I look at friends who grew up together in orphanages or school friends around me, the future looks really bleak,'" adding, "Then he said, 'Dad, you can do it, so please do that work.'"

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