"If the Party and Government Split, Everyone Dies" "Call to Stop Matador" Ruling Party Leadership Election Tensions Rise

Presenting Tailored Pledges at the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Joint Speech Meeting
Won Hee-ryong, Han Dong-hoon, Na Kyung-won Emphasize Being the Right Candidates to Face the Opposition
Yoon Sang-hyun: "We Must Blow Up the Party Headquarters First"

On the 10th, the People Power Party's presidential candidates engaged in sharp and tense exchanges as they checked each other during the 4th Party Convention joint speech meeting for Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam held at BEXCO in Haeundae, Busan. Following the Honam region, this was the second regional joint speech meeting, where the candidates presented tailored pledges to capture the party members' support in the Yeongnam region, which accounts for 40% of party members.

Candidate Won Hee-ryong, who was the first speaker, emphasized during the speech, "I am someone who has the trust of the President," and stated, "I will fight against the Democratic Party and Lee Jae-myung." He reminded the audience that he was the first Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, saying, "Won Hee-ryong who fought against the Cargo Solidarity and the Construction Union, I will confront the special prosecutor and impeachment head-on."

The People Power Party's presidential candidates are showing clenched fists after delivering their policy speeches at the 4th Party Convention Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam Joint Speech Meeting held at BEXCO Auditorium in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the 10th. From left: Na Kyung-won, Yoon Sang-hyun, Won Hee-ryong, Han Dong-hoon. [Photo by Yonhap News]

Candidate Won said, "I do not fight with words alone. I run to the field, overcome all threats, and just like I ended the Cargo Solidarity crisis, I will fight Lee Jae-myung at the forefront," adding, "We must unite and respond together with the Chae Sang-byeong special prosecutor. The worst thing is internal conflict. If the party and government split, we will all truly perish." He continued, "Only when the party and government unite and focus on people's livelihoods and produce national achievements can we regain the trust of the people," and added, "I am the best suited to handle the Namhaean Development Special Act, the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (Bu-Ul-Gyeong) Megacity, and the relocation of the Korea Development Bank."

Candidate Han Dong-hoon expressed his commitment to grow the Bu-Ul-Gyeong economy by mentioning pledges such as the construction of the Gadeokdo New Airport, relocation of the Korea Development Bank, redevelopment of the North Port, and undergrounding of the Gyeongbu Line railway.

Han then appeared to target candidate Won, saying, "It is old-fashioned politics to engage in slander and negative campaigning just one day after pledging at the (Central Party) Election Commission oath ceremony not to do so. We must eliminate such practices," and added, "I will surely lead the success of the Yoon Seok-yeol government, which is our common goal." He also said, "Why do you call on me? Isn't it because 100 days was too short to use and discard me like this?" claiming that he is the only party leader candidate who can defeat Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party.

Candidate Yoon Sang-hyun, who pledged to relinquish vested interests starting with himself, said, "We suffered a devastating defeat in this general election," and emphasized, "I will make our party a value-based party, a livelihood party, and an innovation party." To achieve this, he stressed, "We must blow up the party center," adding, "Only then can party members truly become the owners of the party." He continued, "Our party cannot even produce a 'general election white paper.' No one takes responsibility or asks for accountability for the general election," and said, "We must be truly and passionately angry." He also added, "Living without anger and sadness toward the party means not loving the party."

On the afternoon of the 10th, party members are booing opposing candidates at the People Power Party's 4th National Convention joint speech event for Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam held at BEXCO in Busan. 2024.7.10 [Image source=Yonhap News]

Candidate Yoon proposed differentiated pledges such as enacting the Busan Global Hub City Special Act, regularizing political academies at city and provincial party offices, appointing non-incumbent secretaries-general, establishing the Livelihood Committee, the Vulnerable Groups Committee, and the Civil Complaints Bureau, and setting up a special committee for economic recovery in Bu-Ul-Gyeong.

The last speaker, candidate Na Kyung-won, presented herself as the only party leader capable of blocking the Democratic Party's impeachment offensive and parliamentary dictatorship, emphasizing that she is a current member of the National Assembly.

Candidate Na said, "Lee Jae-myung is turning the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea into a battlefield with indiscriminate impeachment and special prosecution ahead of his first trial verdict," and stressed, "We must stop their barbaric and backward politics." She also said, "To become a stronger and more competent conservative party, a revolution in candidate nomination is necessary," adding, "We must eliminate factional politics, factional nominations, secret nominations, and collusive nominations where people line up and are lined up."

As tailored pledges for Bu-Ul-Gyeong, she promised to develop Busan into a global financial hub, Ulsan into an AI and autonomous driving city, and Gyeongnam into a space and aerospace industry city. She also announced plans to introduce a differentiated minimum wage system for foreign workers.

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