Ha Tae-kyung urges Won Hee-ryong to withdraw candidacy, calling it "an indiscriminate chain of expos?s and stirring up trouble"

Yoon Seok-yeol Boycott, Stirring Intra-Party Discord Over Reorganization Controversy

Ha Tae-kyung, Member of the People Power Party Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Ha Tae-kyung, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, urged his rival, former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong, to withdraw from the race, accusing him of "amplifying and exaggerating uncertain matters to intensify party discord." Former Governor Won recently demanded the release of a recorded phone conversation in which People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok allegedly said, "Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl will soon be dealt with."

On the morning of the 18th, Ha held a press conference at the National Assembly, stating, "I express serious concern and anger over former Governor Won's reckless chain of revelations."

He pointed out, "Former Governor Won attacked former Prosecutor General Yoon for not participating in volunteer activities organized by the primary preparation committee," adding, "Moreover, he exacerbated party conflicts by exaggerating private phone conversations, claiming that Yoon's side proposed a boycott of the volunteer activities."

He continued, "Recently, his attitude abruptly changed as he attacked the primary preparation committee, which he deemed unqualified to hold debates, becoming a key figure in escalating discord."

He further stated, "Yesterday, the party leader allegedly revealed private phone conversations with false information, saying, 'He will be dealt with soon,' referring to Yoon Seok-youl, shaking the party to its core," adding, "It seems he is stirring up trouble by bringing up new issues just as conflicts were about to be resolved."

Ha criticized, "What is the intention of a senior party member and presidential candidate who distorts and exaggerates private conversations to belatedly disclose them, thereby inciting internal party discord? Is it that he wants to raise his own profile even if it destroys the party?"

On the same day, former Governor Won held an emergency press conference at the People Power Party headquarters, stating, "I swear by my memory and conscience that the person Lee referred to as 'being dealt with soon' is former Prosecutor General Yoon." Previously, Lee had released an AI-transcribed recording of the controversial phone conversation with former Governor Won regarding the term "being dealt with."

In response, Ha maintained that former Governor Won's claims were mistaken. Speaking to reporters immediately after the press conference, he said, "If you look at the transcript, the subject of 'being dealt with' is not former Prosecutor General Yoon," emphasizing, "He distorted and exaggerated the matter based on inaccurate memory. I believe this alone is sufficient reason for him to withdraw."

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