Only Two Months Left Until the Opposition Party Convention... Seol Hoon and Kang Hoon-sik Indicate Possible Candidacy for Party Leader

'4-term' Seol Hoon "Announcement Soon"
'Born in the 70s' Kang Hoon-sik "Deep in Thought"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Ahead of the party convention scheduled for August, behind-the-scenes competition to run for the Democratic Party's leadership election has begun.

Seol Hoon, a five-term lawmaker of the Democratic Party, responded on the 17th to the question "Are you running for party leader?" on YTN Radio's 'Park Ji-hoon's News King' by saying, "I should run," and added, "I plan to finalize and announce it soon."

Within the party, the 'generation born in the 1970s' theory is emerging, and these lawmakers are keeping the possibility of running open. Kang Hoon-sik said on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs' regarding the party leader candidacy, "We are seriously listening to the demand that the Democratic Party needs change, and it is true that I am deeply reflecting on what is being asked of me," leaving the door open for a run.

Kang said, "The theory of generational change is a demand to change the face, content, and constitution of the Democratic Party, not to inherit it by age," and added, "Ultimately, the Democratic Party must change. For that, new leadership is necessary."

Park Ju-min, who previously ran in the Seoul mayoral primary, also said on YTN Radio regarding running for party leader, "I am currently at the stage of listening," and added, "Yesterday, two senior lawmakers shared various opinions with me."

Kang Byung-won also expressed a positive stance on running. On the 14th, Kang said on KBS Radio, "If a historic mission is entrusted, I don't think I can avoid it, and I want to say that I am seriously listening to and contemplating the opinions of many lawmakers."

Jeon Jae-soo also emphasized on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' on the 16th, "Whether it is Lee Jae-myung, Jeon Hae-cheol, Hong Young-pyo, or Woo Won-shik, I think they will not run. My role is to make this trend irreversible," and "I believe I also have a certain role to play."

Meanwhile, Lee Jae-myung, who is considered a strong candidate, is reportedly still deliberating whether to run.

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