Song Eon-seok: "Nation's Fate Depends on AI... Ha Jung-woo Must Clarify His Position"

Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, commented on April 19 regarding speculation about Ha Jung-woo, the Presidential Secretary for AI Strategy Planning, being drafted to run in the Buk-gu Gap constituency in Busan, which will become vacant due to Jeon Jae-soo of the Democratic Party of Korea running for Busan mayor. Song said, "Rather than toying with Busan voters as if weighing options, I hope he will make his intentions clear."

Yonhap News Agency

원본보기 아이콘

At a press briefing that morning, Floor Leader Song stated, "The lineup of ruling and opposition party candidates for city and provincial governor positions across the country has mostly been finalized. Looking at this, the upcoming election is about choosing between a proven worker who knows the region and a political parachute." He made these remarks in this context.

Song also said, "Within the Democratic Party, there is a fierce battle between pro-Lee Jae-myung and pro-Jeong Cheong-rae factions." He continued, "With Assemblywoman Choo Mi-ae running for Gyeonggi Governor, Assemblyman Park Soo-hyun for Chungnam Governor, Assemblyman Lee Wontak for Jeonbuk Governor, and Assemblyman Min Hyung-bae for the special mayor of the Gwangju-Jeonnam integrated area, it appears the pro-Jeong faction is achieving overwhelming victories. The center of power is shifting from pro-Lee to pro-Jeong, and now to pro-Kim Eo-jun."

He went on to raise suspicions about Jeon Jae-soo, the Busan mayoral candidate, regarding his alleged acceptance of a luxury watch from the Unification Church. Song said, "The People Power Party has already filed a complaint against candidate Jeon for disseminating false information, but we are considering additional legal action." He added, "If he received a Cartier watch, that in itself is a serious crime, but deceiving the citizens of Busan and the people is an even graver offense."

In particular, regarding Secretary Ha, whose potential candidacy in Buk-gu Gap is being discussed, Floor Leader Song said, "The artificial intelligence (AI) work he is in charge of is a matter of national destiny, and he himself has said as much. The nation's AI strategy must not be swayed by the personal interests of a single individual. Secretary Ha keeps changing his mind morning and night, making light of the matter, but he should not mock the voters and must clarify his position."

Meanwhile, Floor Leader Song commented on Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who was nominated as the party's mayoral candidate, expressing his intention to form an independent, innovative election campaign committee. Song stated, "Elections are inevitably structured around the candidate, not the party leader. From the campaign period onward, the candidate must take responsibility and do their utmost, and it is only natural for them to be at the center. I don't think this should be overinterpreted."

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.