Yoo Seung-min: "If Ahn Cheol-soo Runs, We Will Unite... Must Prevent Centrist-Conservative Division"

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, is holding a press conference at the Daegu City Party Office on the 31st, appealing for support from local residents.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, a presidential candidate of the People Power Party, stated that if he becomes the party's presidential candidate, he will pursue unification with Ahn Cheol-soo, the leader of the People Party.

On the 31st, at a press conference held at the Daegu City Party Office, Yoo said, "If Leader Ahn runs in the presidential election until the end and takes even a few percent of the votes, it would mean a split in the moderate conservative camp and make regime change more difficult." He added, "I have experience working with Leader Ahn and the Bareunmirae Party, so I know him well and am confident I can persuade him." He also said, "Although People Power Party Leader Lee Jun-seok may have personal feelings toward Leader Ahn, he should open his heart widely and act generously regarding this unification."

On the same day, Yoo said, "There were reports that senior lawmakers from former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's camp threatened nominations," and "There were also reports from Representative Hong Joon-pyo's side about taking away nomination rights for local elections." He criticized, "Such old-fashioned practices must stop immediately, and the facts must be clarified. If true, neither former Prosecutor General Yoon nor Representative Hong is qualified to be a candidate."

Regarding candidate unification during the party's primary process, Yoo drew a line. He said, "The unification talks mentioned by some are black propaganda created in various forms by former Prosecutor General Yoon's or Representative Hong's camps," and "The party's primary itself is the process of selecting our unified candidate, so why would there be a separate unification?" He emphasized, "I have never once thought about unifying without completing the race from the beginning until now, and it is unthinkable."

Yoo explained, "Voting by party members will start tomorrow morning," and urged, "Please face the serious reality that each vote directly affects the victory or defeat of regime change." He continued, "I ask you to think only about which candidate can bring about regime change and take much better responsibility for this country than the Democratic Party regime, and to participate in the voting accordingly."

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