Hong Jun-pyo and Choi Jae-hyung Join Hands for Regime Change... "Possible Value Alliance with Ahn Cheol-soo"

Former Auditor General Choi Jae-hyung is answering questions from the press at the recruitment event for former Auditor General Choi held on the morning of the 17th at the campaign office of Hong Joon-pyo, the People Power Party's presidential primary candidate, in Yeouido, Seoul. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Bo-ryeong] Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung officially expressed his support by naming Rep. Hong Joon-pyo as the People Power Party candidate who can defeat Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate (current Governor of Gyeonggi Province). Rep. Hong showed an open attitude toward unification and even mentioned Ahn Cheol-soo, the leader of the People’s Party.

On the 17th, Rep. Hong and former Chairman Choi held a press conference at Rep. Hong’s presidential campaign office in Yeouido, Seoul, stating, "Hong Joon-pyo and Choi Jae-hyung have promised to join forces to realize ‘definite regime change’ and ‘political change’ in response to the national desire for regime change."

They said, "We firmly believe that the most important factor for competitiveness in the final election is none other than the candidate’s ‘morality’ and ‘expandability’ in the face of the critical task of regime change." They emphasized, "In particular, candidate Hong Joon-pyo’s competitiveness, which has nationwide expandability including all generations such as the 2030 generation and opposition party barren areas, will be a solid foundation for the ruling opposition party aiming for definite regime change."

They continued, "Through today’s ‘value alliance’ toward the historic task of definite regime change and political change, the two of us firmly promise, hand in hand, to definitely block the corrupt and incompetent current regime’s ambition to extend its rule and to nurture future generations with sound conservative values to open a vigorous tomorrow for the Republic of Korea."

After the press conference, when asked by reporters why he chose to support Rep. Hong despite receiving a love call from former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, former Chairman Choi answered, "While considering which candidate from our party is most suitable to defeat Lee Jae-myung in the final election, I judged that helping someone who can be supported for their stability, morality, and expandability meets the public’s expectations."

Rep. Hong described former Chairman Choi as a "game changer." He said, "Former Chairman Choi’s image is ‘Mr. Clean,’ and his joining our camp will be a great opportunity to let the public know that our entire camp is a clean camp." He emphasized, "I judge that former Chairman Choi’s arrival will be the game changer in the primary."

Along with this, Rep. Hong mentioned leader Ahn in relation to the possibility of unification with the remaining candidates. Rep. Hong said, "We are always open to uniting based on value alliances, and it will be the same in the final election. Even in the final election, we can form a value alliance with candidate Ahn Cheol-soo in the same way."

Meanwhile, Rep. Hong announced that the former head of the Daejeon election countermeasures committee from former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon’s camp has joined Rep. Hong’s camp. Rep. Hong said, "This person left the Democratic Party and agreed to serve as an advisor to the Daejeon campaign committee. Isn’t that integration? Can candidate Mo’s side call that a reverse selection?"

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