[Interview with Yeo Jeon-dae] Hwang Kyo-ahn Targets Cheon Ha-ram: "Is Passing the Cutoff Your Own Strength?"

"Cheon Ha-ram, More Time Needed for Verification"
Claims of 100,000 Talent Development Plan and 30-Year Regime

Editor's NoteThe candidate lineup for the People Power Party's March 8 leadership election has been finalized. Since this election will select the party leader and supreme council members who will lead the party in next year's general parliamentary elections, the competition among party leadership candidates has been fierce from the start. Asia Economy introduces the pledges and visions of each candidate who is striving to enter the ruling party's leadership.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] "Politicians should be evaluated based on their own capabilities. The era of riding on someone else's back to get votes is over."

Hwang Kyo-ahn, a candidate for the People Power Party's March 8 leadership election, recently said this in an interview with Asia Economy regarding the so-called "four reform candidates" (Cheon Ha-ram, Heo Eun-ah, Kim Yong-tae, Lee Ki-in), who are close aides of former party leader Lee Jun-seok, including Cheon Ha-ram. Hwang said, "It hasn't been long since they declared their candidacy, but is passing the cut-off really due to their own strength?" He added, "Can candidate Cheon really gain such public support on his own? I think more training and time are needed," throwing a cautionary remark.

Hwang and Cheon, along with Kim Ki-hyun and Ahn Cheol-soo, passed the party leader cut-off on the 10th. Since Kim and Ahn are competing for first and second place in various opinion polls, forming a so-called "two-strong structure," Cheon is analyzed to have passed the cut-off in the third or fourth place range.

Earlier, Cheon proposed a public debate on election fraud to Hwang, who is active in the "Election Fraud Prevention Team (Bubangdae)." Regarding this proposal, Hwang said, "A similar proposal was made when I ran as a presidential candidate in the past, but it did not materialize," adding, "There are several speeches scheduled every week for the leadership election, but if time permits, I will do it."

Hwang Kyo-ahn, the candidate for the People Power Party leader, is being interviewed on the 10th at the election situation room in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Hwang served as a prosecutor for over 20 years and was connected to the conservative regime by serving as Minister of Justice and Prime Minister during the Park Geun-hye administration. He joined the Liberty Korea Party, the predecessor of the People Power Party, in 2019 and was elected party leader the same year but resigned after the party's defeat in the April 15, 2020 general election.

Although he is neither a current lawmaker nor a political commentator, the reason he was able to advance to the main race is explained as "because he has consistently upheld the values of traditional conservatism." The reason he always wears a red scarf when meeting party members is also related to this. Hwang said, "Our party is losing its values. I started with the Liberty Korea Party, and red was our color. I thought even a small opportunity to promote our party would be worthwhile," smiling.

Hwang has pledged to continue these values for 30 years. He argues, "At least 30 years are needed to prevent losing this regime, and to do that, we need to nurture at least 100,000 conservative talents." He explained, "For a 30-year regime, I calculated that we need six presidents, 360 minister-level officials, 1,500 lawmakers, and at least 100,000 grassroots council members. But we don't have such talents. So we need to start nurturing 100,000 talents from now on."

He especially emphasized nurturing young talents and claimed he is the right person for the job. He said, "Since finishing my term as prime minister, I have been continuously nurturing youth within the party by establishing a youth political school," adding, "I have led youth in church for 10 years, so I understand their hearts and know how to communicate with them."

Hwang Kyo-ahn, the candidate for the leader of the People Power Party, is being interviewed on the 10th at the election situation room in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Regarding the overheated competition in this leadership election, Hwang said, "Is it really necessary for those who come out in the leadership election to harmonize? The leadership election is a battlefield anyway," adding, "A system that allows the public to make a proper choice is more important than harmony. It would be good if harmony is achieved as well, but nothing is perfect."

However, Hwang pledged that once he becomes party leader, he will achieve internal party unity and harmony. Emphasizing his experience as the initial party leader during the early days of the United Future Party, which achieved conservative unification, he said, "I am someone who has already achieved grand unification once," adding, "There is an evaluation that there was no time for a chemical bond, but that unification must be accomplished."

He continued, "Party policies are usually expressed through pledges, but that often leads to distortion of pledges to gain votes. So at that time, we decided to create policies regularly, including economic, security, and education policies," adding, "I think it is a flawed system for candidates to suddenly create pledges after coming out. It is right to create policies regularly and ask the public to evaluate our party based on them."

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