Park Ji-hyun: "Why can't the person who served as 'interim party leader' run in the primary... This is why the saying 'tosagupeng' comes up"

Park Ji-hyun "If I can't run for party leadership due to election defeat, I must also block Lee Jae-myung"

On the 24th, eight days before the June 1 local elections, Park Ji-hyun, co-chair of the Democratic Party's Emergency Response Committee, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office to make a final public appeal to rally support. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] On the 10th, former co-chair of the Democratic Party's Emergency Response Committee, Park Ji-hyun, claimed regarding the cancellation of her candidacy for the party convention, "Assemblyman Lee Jae-myung, who served as the general election campaign committee chairman and insisted on running in Gyeyang-eul, causing the greatest reason for the local election defeat, is allowed to run, but I am told I am not qualified to run because I bear great responsibility. I cannot accept this."

She continued, "I do not understand the claim that I, as a former emergency response committee chairperson and acting party leader, cannot run in the party leader election," adding, "When I am needed, I am considered qualified, but when I say I want to run for party leader, I am told I am not qualified. This is why the saying 'throwing away the dog after hunting' comes up."

Former Chair Park posted on Facebook that afternoon, stating, "If I am not allowed to run because I bear great responsibility for the local election defeat, then it would be common sense to also block Assemblyman Lee, who bears the greatest responsibility for losing both the presidential and local elections, from running."

She addressed Emergency Response Committee Chair Woo Sang-ho, saying, "I saw an article where you said, 'It would have been more interesting if I could have given her a chance.' If you are sincere, wouldn't you allow my candidacy?" She added, "As stated in the party rules, please promptly and officially discuss the issue of my candidacy for party leader at the party affairs committee. When the ARS vote for party leader approval was held at the Central Committee in April, please assess whether I had the right to be elected and announce it in writing."

Furthermore, she argued, "According to a report by the Democratic Research Institute, the biggest cause of the local election defeat was the lack of reflection and reform after the presidential election defeat. Then, who bears the greatest responsibility? Is it me, Park Ji-hyun, who persistently insisted on reflection and reform? Or is it Assemblyman Lee, who lost the presidential election but insisted on running in Gyeyang?"

She also said, "Of course, I bear some responsibility, but the greatest responsibility lies in failing to stop Assemblyman Lee from running in Gyeyang until the end," and added, "Please allow my candidacy for party leader for the sake of a Democratic Party that approaches the public sentiment, not one shrinking from fan loyalty or complacent with vested interests, but a Democratic Party reborn through innovation."

Former Chair Park stated, "Please create a party convention where established politicians and young politicians communicate together to establish innovation plans and new values for the party, blending party sentiment and public sentiment, and a party convention where the Democratic Party comes alive," adding, "Until the party officially decides on my candidacy issue, I will do my best to prepare for the press conference announcing my candidacy and candidate registration."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party's Emergency Response Committee previously judged that there was no reason to make an exception for former Chair Park's candidacy for the party convention and decided not to submit the related agenda to the party affairs committee. The party affairs committee also summarized that it unanimously respects the Emergency Response Committee's opinion.

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