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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Cho Kuk: 'Conceding Pyeongtaek-Eul means not fielding candidates... that won't happen'

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Cho Kuk, former leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, rejected criticism that he should have conceded the Pyeongtaek-Eul constituency.
  • He argued that his party supported the Democratic Party in 12 constituencies while the Democrats offered no concessions.
  • Cho stated that his party will not withdraw candidates from upcoming elections, despite calls for consolidation.

Cho Kuk, former leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, has strongly refuted suggestions that he should have withdrawn his candidacy in the Pyeongtaek-Eul constituency for the upcoming June 3rd local elections and by-elections. The criticism stems from comments made by Park Jie-won, a five-term lawmaker from the Democratic Party, who stated that Cho himself broke the progressive alliance.

I cannot agree with the assessment that Cho should have conceded in Pyeongtaek-Eul and withdrawn his candidacy.

— Cho KukFormer leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, responding to criticism about election strategy.

"I cannot agree with the assessment that Cho should have conceded in Pyeongtaek-Eul and withdrawn his candidacy," Cho stated on May 19th. He countered Park's assertion by highlighting the Rebuilding Korea Party's support for Democratic Party candidates in 12 other constituencies, including Sejong, Ulsan, Changwon, and Gimhae, through consolidation or candidate withdrawals. "The Democratic Party had no intention of conceding in any of those areas," Cho argued. "Is it acceptable for the Democrats to field a candidate in Pyeongtaek-Eul, but problematic for the Rebuilding Korea Party to do so?"

The Democratic Party had no intention of conceding in any of those areas. Is it acceptable for the Democrats to field a candidate in Pyeongtaek-Eul, but problematic for the Rebuilding Korea Party to do so?

— Cho KukFormer leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, highlighting perceived double standards in election alliances.

Cho further challenged Park's perspective, questioning whether this logic implies that the Rebuilding Korea Party should not field any candidates in the 2028 general election or should withdraw them if they do. "However, that will not happen," Cho declared, signaling his party's firm stance on participating in the elections.

However, that will not happen.

— Cho KukFormer leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, stating his party's intention to field candidates in upcoming elections.

He also pointed out that he consistently advocated for consolidation if the conservative People Power Party had a chance to win. Cho noted that the Democratic Party's candidate, Kim Yong-nam, completely rejected consolidation efforts. "As a senior statesman, shouldn't you have emphasized the need to follow a consolidation process?" Cho asked Park, implying that Park should have directed his advice towards the Democratic Party's candidate.

As a senior statesman, shouldn't you have emphasized the need to follow a consolidation process?

— Cho KukFormer leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, questioning Park Jie-won's advice on election consolidation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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