Pyeongtaek by-election heats up with fierce clash between Kim Yong-nam and Jo Guk

The Hankyoreh reports on a brewing political storm in the Pyeongtaek B constituency by-election, a race that has quickly become a proxy battleground between the Democratic Party and the Jo Guk Innovation Party.

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There will definitely be a problem even if you look at the current situation.

The Democratic Party's decision to nominate Kim Yong-nam, a former conservative lawmaker known for his past strong criticisms of Jo Guk, has ignited fierce opposition from the Jo Guk Innovation Party. Their leader, Jo Guk, is already running for the seat, and the party views Kim's nomination as a direct affront and a violation of political decency.

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If they attack first, I won't attack.

Jo Guk Innovation Party officials have not minced words, calling Kim a "Jo Guk sniper" and questioning the Democratic Party's loyalty as an ally. They have resurrected Kim's past controversial statements, including remarks deemed dismissive of the Sewol Ferry disaster victims and supportive of then-candidate Yoon Suk-yeol's controversial hand gesture during a presidential debate. This is not just about a single election; it's about perceived betrayal and a challenge to the core principles of their political movement.

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The Democratic Party nominating a Jo Guk sniper, are they really our allies who built the Lee Jae-myung government together?

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party, through its Secretary-General Cho Seung-rae, has firmly stated its intention to win the election under Kim Yong-nam's name and the party's banner, effectively shutting down any possibility of a unified candidacy with Jo Guk. This hardening of positions suggests a deep rift, not just over this specific by-election, but potentially over the broader political landscape and the future direction of the progressive camp in South Korea.

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If they come out to kill Jo Guk, what choice do we have? We have no choice but to fight with all our might to survive.