‘Da Taewoo GO (high) regime change’. On the 5th, on the wall of Room 228 of the main building of the National Assembly, this phrase was attached along with a picture of the people’s power ‘Gyeongseon Bus’ standing at the bus stop. On the body of the bus is written ‘Team, the people’s strength goes’. It means waiting for the departure signal as a ‘one team’ after picking up all the passengers up to former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol.
From the first day when the presidential candidates gathered in front of the wall, these slogans became insignificant. The large passenger seats were vacant in many places. It was because former President Yoon and former Auditor General Choi Jae-hyung were absent. From the runners who attended, harsh remarks such as “Do you disrespect the party” and “Do you play individual games?” came out. Only the absence of ‘Team People’s Power’ was revealed.
The People’s Power held a plenary session of the candidates for the 20th presidential election at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the same day. Nine candidates including Kim Tae-ho, Ahn Sang-soo, Yoo Seung-min, Yoon Hee-suk, Won Hee-ryong, Jang Ki-pyo, Jang Seong-min, Ha Tae-kyung, and Hwang Kyo-ahn (in alphabetical order), along with Party leadership, including Chairman Lee Jun-seok and Preparatory Committee Chairman Suh Byung-su, attended. Former President Yoon, former President Choi, and lawmakers Hong Jun-pyo and Park Jin were absent. Former President Yoon and Rep. Hong said they were on vacation, and former President Choi visited the region on a public tour schedule and said that they would not participate.
Following the party’s presidential candidate volunteer activity event the day before, the party’s official event on the second day became ‘half-a-half’, expressing displeasure between the party preparatory committee and the presidential candidates.
Chairman Suh said in his remarks, “It is very regrettable that some candidates (for the previous day’s volunteer work) were missing for no particular reason. Everyone should seriously consider whether it will benefit the party or not,” he said. The ‘public warning’ was issued for the absence of former President Yoon, former President Choi, Hong Jun-pyo, and Yoo Seung-min of the previous day’s event.
The meeting that followed was close to the Seongtojang of former President Yoon and former President Choi. After entering the office just before the presidential election, concentrated fire was poured on the two big-time political rookies who were absent from party events for two days in a row. Five of the seven candidates who spoke publicly criticized those who did not attend.
Ahn Sang-soo, former Mayor of Incheon, said, “Candidates ‘disregard’ the party and ignore the president, citing the fact that former President Yoon was sworn in on the 30th of last month, when Lee was absent. He said that he would join the party and come without a party leader or a floor leader.” Assemblyman Ha Tae-kyung said, “There are many truant absences today. He said, “The two newly joined members and those who earnestly requested the party go out as soon as the official race of the party starts. Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong also said to Yoon and Choi, “I don’t see any sincerity or seriousness in what I have to do as a ‘one team’, why I joined the party, because I needed a signboard,” he said.
At the bottom of the fierce criticism raised by the party runners lies the struggle for leadership within the party that has already begun ahead of the primary. It is interpreted that the rivals within the party were wary as former President Yoon and former President Choi began to ‘gather reinforcements’ inside and outside the party, and the two runners with relatively high approval ratings gathered forces. Even in remarks such as “a swarm of flies (playing gang politics) can ruin our party” (Chun Mayor Ahn), “there are still things that frown on the people, such as lining up political lines, showing off three people, and flattering” (Rep. Kim Tae-ho). There was a heightened tension ahead.
Rep. Yoon Hee-sook said, “If you look at the actions of former President Choi and former President Yoon, they are not ready for the policy vision. In such a situation, it is outdated to ask other politicians to line up and use it as a political asset,” he said. Governor Won also pinned two runners, saying, “One person says he’s not ready, and the other person (related to Fukushima radiation and feminism) is suspicious of public sentiment and makes comments that cause dislike and anger.” “The politics these people think Wa and the president are very bad old-fashioned politics.”
After meeting with reporters after the meeting, CEO Lee met with reporters and said, “One of the nominees informed the Chairman of the Gyeongjun and me that he was sorry for the pre-arranged schedule through various channels, and I do not want to recommend such person to attend even after canceling the existing schedule.” “There will be a system in place in the future,” he said.
In a telephone conversation with a reporter, an official from Yoon’s side said, “I made a schedule in two-week increments, but I had an irrevocable commitment to volunteer work, so I couldn’t attend because I found out about the meeting schedule late.” It’s a pity that the part It is difficult to meet the schedule two days in advance and ask them to come.”
