"Claiming to be progressive while oppressing the people and making them poor"

On the 12th, when the official election campaign for the 21st presidential election began, Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, made strong statements during the first central election strategy committee meeting.

During the campaign committee meeting held at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Candidate Kim stated, "Is making the country poor and oppressing the people what it means to be progressive? I want to tear apart this fake progressivism."

Candidate Kim introduced his first campaign schedule for the day, which was a visit to Garak Market in Songpa-gu, Seoul, emphasizing his vision as an "economic president." He declared, "I will become a president who protects liberal democracy and the market economy."

Introducing North Korean defector Park Chung-gwon

During the meeting, Candidate Kim introduced Park Chung-gwon, a member of the People Power Party who is a North Korean defector, and handed him the microphone.

Candidate Kim asked Park, "What is the biggest difference from North Korea?" to which Park replied, "Our market is free." The two then referred to the reality of North Korea's markets and the issue of "kotjebi," stressing the "necessity of a free unification."

Continuing the conversation with Park, Candidate Kim stated, "Enriching people is what progressivism is about. Is making people poor progressivism?," directly targeting so-called progressive forces. During his remarks, he pointed out Representative Yang Hyang-ja, who was seated as a co-chair of the campaign committee, saying, "Although our co-chair Yang Hyang-ja is here, I want to tear apart this fake progressivism," stirring the meeting room.

Entering official campaigning…Candidate Kim attempts to rally conservatives

Candidate Kim's remarks on the official start of the election campaign are interpreted as a strategic move to consolidate conservative voters. In particular, the expression "fake progressives" is seen as a declaration of full-scale war against the progressive camp.

During the election campaign period, Candidate Kim is expected to focus on economic and security issues to differentiate himself from the so-called "progressive politics" associated with Moon Jae-in and Lee Jae-myung. The party’s campaign committee believes that Candidate Kim's message, while provocative, could effectively resonate with core supporters.

Image source: Kim Moon-soo candidate / News1, News1