Choi Jae-hyung "Will Follow Party Request to Run in Jongno"... Reaffirms Regime Change

Opposition to Yoon-An Unity: "Personal Opinion Not Appropriate"
"Yoon Seok-yeol, a Candidate Who Can Restrain Abuse of Power" Support

People Power Party's presidential primary candidate Choi Jae-hyung is preparing for a debate at the 2nd broadcast debate of the People Power Party's 20th presidential candidate election held on September 23 at ASSA Studio in Gangseo-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] Choi Jae-hyung, Standing Advisor of the People Power Party, expressed on the 9th that he would "comply if the party requests" regarding his potential candidacy for the Seoul Jongno by-election next month.

On the same day, when asked about the possibility of running in the Jongno by-election on KBS Radio's "Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs," Standing Advisor Choi said, "I came out for regime change, not simply to become a member of the National Assembly." This reaffirmed that regime change was the reason for his political participation.

The People Power Party decided on the 7th to strategically nominate a candidate for Jongno District in the March 9 by-elections held alongside the presidential election. Considering Jongno's symbolic status as the "political number one district," candidates such as Standing Advisor Choi, Policy Chief Won Hee-ryong, former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, and former floor leader Na Kyung-won are being mentioned. Previously, the Democratic Party of Korea decided not to nominate a candidate in Jongno, citing party reform as the reason.

Standing Advisor Choi also repeatedly emphasized regime change in relation to the presidential election. He said, "Public opinion overwhelmingly supports regime change," adding, "After the recent four-way debate, the poll results seem to show that Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, is leading and appears to be gaining momentum," thereby supporting regime change through candidate Yoon.

Regarding the unification between candidate Yoon and Ahn Cheol-soo of the People’s Party, he said, "Many people are saying that unification is necessary for a more stable regime change," but added, "Since it is a matter for the candidates to decide, it is not appropriate for me to express a personal opinion," withholding further comment.

He also evaluated candidate Yoon as the right person to end the imperial presidency system. He said, "The biggest problem of the imperial presidency is the personnel appointment authority," and added, "(Yoon) is a candidate who can exercise restraint in that regard." He mentioned Yoon’s pledge to greatly expand the autonomy and responsibility of the prime minister and ministers. Regarding the Democratic Party’s claim that Yoon’s presidency would lead to a "prosecutor’s republic," he dismissed it as "not a personal issue of candidate Yoon but a problem of the prosecution organization."

He emphasized, "The separation of powers in South Korea has significantly deteriorated over the past five years," and stressed, "Regime change must be achieved to restore the constitutional spirit of separation of powers through checks and balances against the National Assembly dominated by the 180-seat supermajority party (Democratic Party) and the tilted judicial power."

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