On the 8th, a day before the election of the next floor leader of the ruling party, a presentation of opinions was held with the three candidates: Lee Jong-bae (4th term, Chungbuk Chungju), Choo Kyung-ho (3rd term, Daegu Dalseong), and Song Seok-jun (3rd term, Gyeonggi Icheon). The candidates presented their visions to the 22nd elected members in order of their assigned numbers.
Lee highlighted his strengths as “experience and moderateness”. He mentioned his experience as the most-elected lawmaker in the Chungbuk Chungju area, emphasizing his victories in five previous elections in a region divided between conservative, moderate, and progressive factions. He also emphasized the need for the next floor leader to avoid trial and error.
Choo expressed his readiness to take on the challenge, stating that someone must boldly raise the anchor in times of crises. Referring to his past roles as the first economic deputy prime minister of the current administration, he highlighted his experience in negotiating with both ruling and opposition parties to secure key positions in various committees.
Song focused on the sentiment in the capital region, recognizing the party’s previous losses in elections, particularly in Seoul and its surrounding areas. He emphasized the importance of constructing a new leadership structure by securing key positions in the parliament to support the activities of junior lawmakers effectively.
All three candidates collectively emphasized the success of the government led by Yoon Suk-yeol and spoke about building healthy relationships within the party rather than using terms like vertical or horizontal party relations. They all pledged to establish a healthy party regime based on trust and to make the party a well-loved and trusted one by securing internal solidarity.
When asked how they would persuade lawmakers with differing opinions, Lee emphasized the importance of adhering to party principles through thorough debate and discussion before making decisions. Choo stressed the necessity for party unity to move forward, especially with their 108 seats in the parliament. Song recognized internal differences regarding the Chae Song-byeong special prosecutor law and acknowledged the need for compromising personal beliefs for the greater good.
Regarding party unity issues, they all provided similar responses. Lee emphasized the need for understanding and empathy to address internal problems. Choo proposed creating a link between the floor leader’s team and external connections for sustained and intensified activities. Song suggested diagnosing the reasons behind electoral losses to strengthen the party organization and minimize post-election repercussions.