"The Capital Region Is Always Both a Crisis and an Opportunity"… Na Kyung-won 'Steps Up' Amid Ruling Party's Crisis Narrative

'Population, Climate, and Tomorrow' Forum Founded
Massive Attendance by People Power Party Leadership
"People Power Party's Support in Seoul Metropolitan Area Trails Democratic Party"

Former People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won has restarted her political activities on the central stage by founding a forum. Although she dismissed interpretations that she was warming up ahead of the general election, she announced the full-scale resumption of her activities, saying, "The metropolitan area is always both a crisis and an opportunity," amid the spread of the metropolitan crisis theory within the ruling party.

On the 24th, the founding ceremony of the forum ‘Population, Climate, and Tomorrow,’ led by former lawmaker Na, was held at the National Assembly Library, packed with a large crowd including the People Power Party leadership. Before the event began, she met with reporters and said, "I believe population and climate issues are truly the most important issues for the Republic of Korea," adding, "If we do not turn this crisis into an opportunity in this era regarding population and climate, I think we are not fulfilling our responsibilities to future generations. We have established a corporation this time to create a forum that seeks solutions and shares answers to the population and climate crisis."

Regarding the metropolitan crisis theory being raised within the ruling party, former lawmaker Na said, "I think the metropolitan area is always both a crisis and an opportunity," and added, "We need to keep watching until the election to see what the election results will be," emphasizing, "I think it is important that everyone does not become complacent and continues to make efforts to truly win the hearts of the people until the end."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former lawmaker Na rejected the assessment that she has begun warming up in earnest ahead of next year’s general election, calling it an "excessive overinterpretation." However, she explained, "I have really focused on the voices from the field in the region," and "While concentrating on the voices from the field, I have seriously contemplated the future of the Republic of Korea, and I plan to create a think tank with experts who share this concern to propose solutions going forward."

The event drew such a large audience that people were seated even on the aisle stairs. Alongside the leadership including People Power Party leader Kim Gi-hyeon, former Liberty Korea Party emergency committee chairman Kim Byung-joon, People Power Party Policy Committee Chair Park Dae-chul, and People Power Party Secretary-General Lee Cheol-gyu, many People Power Party lawmakers were present.

Within the People Power Party, it is interpreted that former lawmaker Na, who has a solid support base, has resumed full-scale political activities starting with the forum. Former lawmaker Na was considered a leading candidate for party leadership ahead of the last People Power Party leadership election but suffered setbacks when she was simultaneously dismissed and relieved from her positions as Vice Chair of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee and Climate Environment Ambassador. Subsequently, she gave up running for party leadership and declared support for leader Kim.

In his congratulatory speech, leader Kim said, "Former lawmaker Na is an icon of the conservative party and the best leader," and added, "I will support former leader Na to fight at the forefront with her rank insignia."

A public opinion poll released on the same day showed that the metropolitan crisis theory openly discussed inside and outside the party is not just an exaggeration. According to a poll by Media Tomato (commissioned by News Tomato, conducted from the 19th to 20th, targeting 1,017 men and women aged 18 and over), the Democratic Party received 46.9% support in the entire metropolitan area, leading the People Power Party’s 34.7% beyond the margin of error (±3.1%). By region, the Democratic Party led with 53.0% and 50.2% in Gyeonggi and Incheon, respectively, ahead of the People Power Party’s 32.3% in Gyeonggi and 31.4% in Incheon. However, in Seoul, the People Power Party led with 39.2% over the Democratic Party’s 37.3%. (For detailed survey methodology and results, refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.)

The ruling party is actively responding to the metropolitan crisis theory. On the same day, Kim Seon-dong, former lawmaker and newly appointed head of the People Power Party Seoul City Committee, Song Seok-jun, head of the Gyeonggi Provincial Committee, and Bae Jun-young, head of the Incheon City Committee, held a meeting at the central party office, combining a greeting meeting after their appointments. After the meeting, Kim introduced, "It was a meeting to discuss practically how to prepare since Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon are important battlegrounds in the election," adding, "As committee heads, we shared the heavy responsibility, duty, and mission to lead this crucial election."

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