Song Gap-seok, Min Party Supreme Council Candidate, "Will Realize Honam Politics and Lead Democratic Party to Victory"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Song Gap-seok, a candidate for the Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea who is challenging to enter the new leadership of the Democratic Party, visited the Jeonnam Provincial Council on the 16th to have a time of communication and appealed for support while emphasizing that he is the sole Supreme Council candidate from Honam.

He said, “Following Han Byung-do from Jeonbuk and Seo Sam-seok from Jeonnam, Song Gap-seok from Gwangju is making the third challenge as the sole Supreme Council candidate from Honam, but this time is no less difficult,” adding, “This party convention is extremely harsh for the sole candidate from Honam who has no faction or line.”

He continued, “After the presidential election, Honam, which was always splendidly called the heart of the Democratic Party, is inevitably forced to be called by a specific faction when the party convention begins,” and said, “Not having a faction and therefore having nothing to say is the destiny and pride of Honam politics. For me as a candidate, it is an honorable disadvantage.”

He also said, “Honam has chosen leaders of the Democratic Party who are faithful to the great cause and the spirit of the times and who can win,” emphasizing, “Candidate Roh Moo-hyun was like that, Candidate Moon Jae-in was like that, and Candidate Lee Jae-myung was the same. Therefore, pro-Roh, pro-Moon, and pro-Lee are not the language of Honam.”

He added, “When our comrades were oppressed, Honam politics stood together against it; when they were discouraged and hesitant, it encouraged them; when the party went ahead of public opinion, it firmly restrained it; and when it went astray, it sent harsh warnings. This is the politics of Honam,” arguing, “This is why the spirit of Honam is desperately needed in this era of crisis and in the Democratic Party in crisis.”

Candidate Song explained, “After three defeats, I was able to become a member of the National Assembly only after 18 years, and during those 18 years, I was neither part of the Donggyodong faction, nor pro-Roh, nor pro-Moon,” adding, “However, I confidently say that I stood on the side of the Honam reform forces and devoted myself more than anyone else to making three presidents.”

He also diagnosed the current situation of the Democratic Party.

He emphasized, “Voices of concern are erupting that our party is drifting away from the public sentiment of Honam, and voices of lament that the spirit of Honam is fading from the identity of our party,” adding, “Behind the claims of leading candidates that ‘the party members are the owners of the party,’ there is a paradoxical situation where the composition of the leadership itself excludes Honam and non-capital regions and blocks the voices of party members with diverse views and perspectives.”

He continued, “When the spirit of Honam moves away from the center of the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party has been defeated, and when the vein of Honam politics is cut off, the Democratic Party has shaken,” appealing, “Only Honam can awaken the Democratic Party in crisis. Through me, Song Gap-seok, the sole candidate from Honam, please engrave the spirit of Honam in the party leadership and achieve victory in the general election and the return to power.”

Along with this, he said, “I will proudly enter the party leadership, realize Honam politics, and lead the Democratic Party to the path of victory together with Honam,” adding, “Please unite your strength behind me, Song Gap-seok, and achieve a great turnaround with overwhelming support from Honam.”

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