Candidates for the Democratic Party Convention Promise 'Honam Development'... Complex Shopping Mall, Military Airport Relocation, etc. (Comprehensive)

The Election Commission Issues a 'Warning' to Candidate Tae Young-ho for 'Jeju 4·3 Remarks'

[Asia Economy Reporters Kum Boryeong and Kim Youngwon] The candidates running for the March 8 People Power Party leadership election simultaneously emphasized the 'development of Honam' in Gwangju. Honam is known as the so-called 'stronghold' of the Democratic Party of Korea, but a 'wind of change' is blowing as metropolitan and local councilors were elected in the recent local elections.

Leadership Candidates' 'Honam Development' Pledges

Hwang Kyo-ahn, a candidate for the People Power Party leadership, stated at the joint speech meeting for Gwangju, Jeonbuk, and Jeonnam held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju on the afternoon of the 16th, "I will definitely ensure that three members of the National Assembly are elected from Honam."

Hwang added, "Someone wrote a memo saying, 'Please resolve Honam's grievances.' I will resolve Honam's grievances," emphasizing, "I looked into what agenda is here. I will create a win-win type Gwangju complex shopping mall and Saemangeum megacity."

Cheon Ha-ram, the only leadership candidate active in the Honam region, shouted, "We can do it. I will make it happen," and "People Power Party's Cheon Ha-ram, who is loved even in Honam, will make it happen." Cheon is the chairman of the People Power Party's Suncheon, Gwangyang, Gokseong, and Gurye Gap district committee.

Cheon mentioned the wind of change already blowing in Honam. Referring to the recent local elections, he said, "For the first time in a long time, we succeeded in electing proportional representation members in Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, Gwangju, and even in Suncheon where I am from, achieving a visible result of becoming the second party in Honam," emphasizing, "We must practice politics that elects winners so that the conservative ideology and values we believe in are realized in Honam as well."

He added, "I will not make Honam party members and district committee chairpersons mere figureheads but will shine a strong spotlight on them," and "I will become a party leader who actively thinks about and opens up the future of our Honam more than anyone else."

Kim Ki-hyun also said, "Many people in Honam say the economy is important," and asked, "Shouldn't we immediately resolve the Gwangju complex shopping mall and military airport relocation? Shouldn't we establish a new high-speed railway and create a semiconductor specialized complex in Gwangju and Jeonnam?"

People Power Party representatives Hwang Kyo-ahn, Chun Ha-ram, Ahn Cheol-soo, and Kim Ki-hyun (from left) greet and pose for a commemorative photo at the 3rd Party Convention joint speech meeting for Gwangju, Jeonbuk, and Jeonnam held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju on the afternoon of the 16th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

Kim explained, "I think the most important keyword for People Power Party's support in Honam is sincerity and genuineness," adding, "We must show the true heart and demonstrate our will for national unity, not just a one-time appearance."

Ahn Cheol-soo began his speech by saying, "Our party has been recognized for change by the people through repeatedly asking for forgiveness in Gwangju."

Along with this, Ahn said, "If our party wants to achieve a landslide victory with 170 seats in next year's general election, we must not give up on Honam. Voters in the metropolitan area decide their votes by watching our party's actions in Honam," and "If I become the party leader, I will appoint a nominated supreme council member from Honam."

Supreme Council Candidates Also Focused on 'Winning Honam Support'

Heo Eun-ah and Kim Yong-tae, so-called 'reform conservatives' classified as pro-Lee Jun-seok faction, presented region-specific pledges such as Gwangju Subway Line 2 and military airport relocation.

Heo said, "Gwangju Line 1, which opened 18 years ago, has had chronic problems of deficits and low ridership for a very long time. However, Line 2, whose completion schedule keeps being delayed, does not pass through places citizens need most, such as U-Square and Champions Field, which are the most visited by Gwangju citizens," adding, "I will support the re-promotion of the branch line plan passing through the canceled U-Square and Champions Field. I will work to revitalize Gwangju through its subway."

Kim said, "I think we must not only attract KTX to Muan but also ensure the military airport relocation is successfully carried out," emphasizing, "If I enter the People Power Party leadership, I will push forward the military airport relocation issue according to principles."

Min Young-sam, a candidate from Honam, promised, "I pledge to become a Honam conservative who develops Honam and revitalizes the Republic of Korea in unity with President Yoon Seok-yeol," and said, "Let's once again gather strength, passion, and great will for the development of the Honam region."

Another Honam native, Cho Su-jin, said, "During the record heavy rains in Honam, I participated in multiple flood recovery activities, and in spring 2021, I planned visits to Gwangju by first-term lawmakers," adding, "During Yoon Seok-yeol's presidential campaign, he said that Honam's development is Yeongnam's development, and Yeongnam's development is Korea's development. Let's properly achieve national unity in Honam."

People Power Party Supreme Councilor candidates Heo Eun-ah, Jeong Mi-gyeong, Min Young-sam, Tae Young-ho, Kim Byung-min, Jo Su-jin, Kim Jae-won, and Kim Yong-tae (from left) are posing for a commemorative photo on the afternoon of the 16th at the Gwangju Kim Dae-jung Convention Center during the 3rd Party Convention joint speech meeting for Gwangju, Jeonbuk, and Jeonnam. (Photo by Yonhap News)

Youth supreme council candidates also raised their voices. Lee Ki-in, a youth supreme council candidate, said, "With the opening of the second phase of the Honam high-speed railway, there is no need to take a bus that takes three hours; you can arrive at Songjeong Station in just 1 hour and 40 minutes. We must make good use of this changed transportation characteristic," adding, "My proposal for Gwangju is the 'Hub and Spoke Model.' Like bicycle spokes extending outward, it is about building transportation routes spreading from the center to the outskirts."

Election Commission Issues 'Warning' to Supreme Council Candidate Tae Young-ho

Meanwhile, on the same day, the leadership election management committee issued a warning to supreme council candidate Tae Young-ho, who caused controversy over the 'Jeju 4.3 Incident.' Tae made remarks that the 4.3 Incident was triggered under the direction of North Korea's Kim Il-sung, drawing protests from bereaved families and the Jeju provincial party.

Assemblyman Bae Jun-young, a member of the election management committee, told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "The election commission verbally contacted him to refrain from remarks that go against local public sentiment or national sentiment," adding, "It was an official notification."

Regarding the election commission's action, Emergency Response Committee Chairman Chung Jin-seok also explained to reporters after the emergency committee meeting at the National Assembly that morning, "He made a presentation on a sensitive issue, but the opinion was conveyed that it would be better to refrain."

Tae did not mention the Jeju 4.3 Incident in his speech that day, but when asked about the election commission's warning during a meeting with reporters after the speech, he replied, "I am a member of the People Power Party and a member of the National Assembly," and "I respect the decision made by the party's election commission."

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