'Party Leader Candidacy' Cho Kyung-tae "Bold Personnel Purge is the Way for Gukhim to Live Again"

[Financial News] Cho Kyung-tae, a six-term member of the People Power Party, declared his candidacy for the party convention on the 21st, stating, "I will not hesitate to purge the forces that have driven our party to the brink of crisis," and "Only bold personnel purges can revive the People Power Party." Cho had previously advocated for the personnel purge of 45 party members who attended a gathering at the Hannam-dong residence during the execution of the arrest warrant for former President Yoon Seok-yeol.
Cho held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall that morning, stating, "This party convention is the last chance given by the people to reflect and introspect on the past," and "The only person who can seize this last chance is me, Cho Kyung-tae, who has followed my beliefs and the will of the people."
At the event, Cho emphasized the values of 'traditional conservatism' such as constitutional protection, rule of law, and liberal democracy. Cho pointed out, "Our party has violated the spirit and values of conservatism on its own," and "is being judged by the people."
He explained that the personnel purge is a plan to restore traditional conservatism. He argued that since the decisive moment that caused the crisis of the conservative party was the 12·3 martial law incident, he, who participated in the lifting of martial law and supported impeachment, is the right person for renewal. Cho declared, "I will establish a permanent committee for personnel renewal involving the people," and "I will revive the party through complete severance from the wrong past."
As policy pledges, he proposed △leading North-South reconciliation △relocating the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan △relocating the Ministry of Industry and Resources to Daegu and Gyeongbuk. In setting relations with the Lee Jae-myung government, he stated that while cooperating to achieve policy pledges, "If they persecute our innocent party members under the name of a special investigation, I will fight strongly," and "If they try to dissolve the People Power Party, the bastion of traditional conservatism, I will firmly and resolutely fight back to prevent it."
After the press conference, Cho met with reporters and left open the possibility of an alliance with the 'innovation faction' strongly advocating for party innovation, such as personnel renewal. Regarding Ahn Cheol-soo, who declared his candidacy for the party convention, he emphasized, "Those who participate in innovation should unify their candidacy," and "I think (Ahn) will accept it, and if he thinks it's right, we should go together." He also mentioned that Han Dong-hoon, who is reportedly considering running, is also a target for unification.
He also criticized the fact that this party convention is being held with '80% party member vote and 20% public opinion poll' without amending the party constitution and regulations. Cho stated, "We should accept the '100% public primary proposal' suggested by Innovation Committee Chairman Yoon Hee-sook," and "Only then can we be reborn as a people's party."
He strongly condemned the controversy that arose after Jeon Han-gil, who had strongly advocated against fraudulent elections and the impeachment of former President Yoon, recently joined the party. He declared that the forces following fraudulent elections, Yoon Again, and Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon are "the three forces that must be severed," and "If I become the party leader, I will definitely weed out such forces."
He also hinted that Kim Moon-soo, the former Minister of Employment and Labor, who held a press conference for party leader candidacy on the 20th, is a target for personnel renewal, stating, "He is a figure who cannot be free from far-right forces."

haeram@fnnews.com Lee Haeram Reporter