Candidates clash over 'true' progressive status in Pyeongtaek by-election

The race for the Pyeongtaek B parliamentary by-election has intensified as candidates Kim Yong-nam of the Democratic Party and Cho Kuk of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party engage in a fierce battle over who truly represents the progressive movement.

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The Democratic Party candidate for Pyeongtaek B and some leaders opposed creating a larger and stronger democratic reform camp. It is the politics of the small-minded, who abandon the greater good for their own political careers.

Cho Kuk has directly challenged Kim Yong-nam and certain Democratic Party leaders, accusing them of hindering the expansion of the progressive bloc. "Some leaders of the Democratic Party in Pyeongtaek opposed creating a larger and stronger democratic reform camp," Cho stated at a campaign meeting. He characterized their actions as "politics of the small-minded, who abandon the greater good for their own political careers." Cho asserted that his opponents' behavior runs counter to the wishes of Pyeongtaek citizens and the progressive camp, making it clear who is the "rightful candidate" to fulfill their aspirations.

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Kim Yong-nam, the candidate nominated by the Democratic Party, is the true Democratic Party candidate. A fake Democratic Party candidate is deceiving people as if they were real.

This exchange follows remarks made by Cho Seung-rae, the Democratic Party's chief election committee chairman, who visited Pyeongtaek to support Kim. Cho Seung-rae declared Kim Yong-nam the "true" Democratic Party candidate, chosen by President Lee Jae-myung and nominated by the party. He accused Cho Kuk of "deceiving people" by presenting himself as a genuine Democratic Party candidate. In a press conference, Cho Seung-rae questioned why Cho Kuk would "wear the mask of the Democratic Party to run in an election."

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Why are you running an election wearing the mask of the Democratic Party?

Both campaigns have traded sharp barbs. Kim's camp referred to Cho Kuk's party members as those who entered the National Assembly through a "fraudulent scheme" in the last general election, urging them to cease their "fake Democratic Party marketing." In response, Cho Kuk's campaign brought up recent reports about Kim's alleged involvement in the "loan shark business," demanding an explanation as a matter of courtesy to the voters of Pyeongtaek and the nation.

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Stop the fake Democratic Party marketing.