Assemblyman Jo Hae-jin to Run in Gimhae-eul... Ruling and Opposition Preliminary Candidates and Party Members 'Boiling'

Rep. Jo: "I Will Devote Myself to the Point of Becoming Bone Dust for Victory in the General Election"

People Power Party lawmaker Cho Hae-jin's decision to run for the Gimhae-si Eul constituency in Gyeongnam has sparked strong opposition from both ruling and opposition party preliminary candidates as well as city and provincial council members.

Earlier, Cho announced that he would leave his current constituency of Gyeongnam Miryang·Uiryeong·Haman·Changnyeong and run in Gimhae Eul in the 22nd National Assembly election, following a request from the People Power Party's nomination management committee.

Preliminary candidates for Gimhae-eul in Gyeongnam from the People Power Party and city and provincial council members are criticizing Assemblyman Jo Hae-jin's candidacy for Gimhae-eul and urging a fair primary election.
[Photo by Lee Se-ryeong]

On the 14th, People Power Party preliminary candidates for Gimhae Eul and city and provincial council members held a press conference at the Gimhae City Hall Press Center, strongly urging, "We strongly demand that Cho withdraw his candidacy for Gimhae Eul," and added, "If he insists on running in Gimhae Eul, he should not hide behind the party but boldly participate in the primary."

They said, "Cho claims that his decision was not voluntary but an unavoidable choice following the party leadership's recommendation to change constituencies, but Gimhae Eul is not a place easily won by outsiders."

"Gimhae is the toughest area in the Nakdong River belt, which the Democratic Party has monopolized for 12 years," they argued, "Unless he is a reasonably qualified candidate with objective competitiveness, Cho, who has no connection to Gimhae and does not truly understand the area, is disrespecting the approximately 560,000 citizens of Gimhae."

They continued, "If he ignores local sentiment and forces his candidacy, preliminary candidates, local city and provincial council members, and party members will respond step-by-step with full force."

They revealed that since the previous day, they have been collecting signatures opposing Cho's candidacy for Gimhae Eul from responsible party members within the party and plan to submit a fair primary application to the central party's nomination committee on the same day.

Furthermore, they emphasized, "It is not too late to decide the candidate after conducting interviews according to the central party's system nomination rules," and added, "We must directly ask the citizens of Gimhae and party comrades who the competitive and suitable candidate is, and who can accurately identify Gimhae's blocked issues."

Shin Sang-hoon, a preliminary candidate for the Democratic Party of Korea in Gimhae-si Eul, Gyeongnam, is holding a press conference criticizing Assemblyman Cho Hae-jin's move to run in a different electoral district.
[Photo by Lee Se-ryeong]

That afternoon, Democratic Party preliminary candidate Shin Sang-hoon also criticized Cho's constituency transfer candidacy.

Shin, who declared his candidacy for Gimhae Eul, said, "Moving someone who has been active in another region for decades around like a long-term pawn just because they are a multi-term lawmaker is disrespectful to the citizens of Gimhae," and expressed "strong regret toward the People Power Party and Cho, who treat Gimhae like a jar of dried persimmons left in their care."

"Both Kim Kyung-soo, who could not attend due to circumstances, and I graduated from elementary, middle, and high school in Gimhae and have worked here," he said, "In this general election, I will make it a victory for the true citizens of Gimhae, not for Cho, who lacks clear ties."

The Gimhae-si Eul constituency is currently represented by Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Jeong-ho, who is seeking a third term in this general election.

Currently, a total of 11 candidates have registered, including Democratic Party's Kim Jeong-ho, Shin Sang-hoon, Kim Kyung-soo; People Power Party's Seo Jong-gil, Lee Chun-ho, Kim Seong-woo, Kim Jang-han, Park Jin-gwan, Lee Sang-ryul, Kim Jin-il; and Progressive Party's Lee Cheon-gi.

Assemblyman Jo Hae-jin is answering reporters' questions before leaving Gimhae City Hall after canceling his press conference for the Gimhae-si Eul electoral district in Gyeongnam.
[Photo by Lee Se-ryeong]

Cho attempted to hold a press conference at 11 a.m. at the Gimhae City Hall Press Center but was blocked from entering the venue by preliminary candidates, city and provincial council members, and local council groups, so he replaced the press conference with a written statement declaring his candidacy.

In the statement, he said, "I empathize with the party's anguish and have decided to follow the request to run in the Gimhae-si Eul constituency," adding, "I regret and apologize for not consulting in advance with party members and citizens of both my current and new constituencies."

"Leaving the stronghold I have cultivated for 20 years, I have set aside everything except winning the general election, saving the country, and dedicating myself to new comrades, neighbors, and friends to the point of self-sacrifice," he said, "I will demonstrate the skills of a three-term veteran and the power of a four-term senior member of the ruling party."

Cho expressed gratitude and respect to local senior party members who have endured years of hardship, maintaining loyalty and integrity in a politically barren area, embracing the conservative base, and added, "I will run with a death wish and surely repay the citizens and party comrades."

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