Son Su-jo, media spokesperson for the People Power Party (PPP), called for intra-party unity on Wednesday through social media, saying, "If you truly care about the party and our candidates, cheer on the candidates around you and fight together."
The appeal came after PPP lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun and some local party chapter heads openly criticized party leader Chang Dong-hyuk and the leadership during a Supreme Council meeting held in Namdong-gu, Incheon the previous day.
At the meeting, Yoon said, "We need to ask ourselves whether the party is empowering candidates or burdening them," adding, "Frankly, the candidates want a transition to an emergency leadership system." The remarks were a direct attack on the current leadership.
"I was at the Incheon field Supreme Council meeting that sparked the controversy yesterday. When Chairman Chang Dong-hyuk arrived at the venue, people shouted 'Fighting!' and kept chanting 'Chang Dong-hyuk,'" Son said. "Elections are about having the spirit of 'we can do it' no matter how tough things get, and every candidate is putting their life on the line for this challenge."
Son continued, "Even if we pour all of our positive energy into this, it wouldn't be enough. How does saying 'it's not working' or 'it's too hard' help anyone right now?" He emphasized, "We all promised our party members and the public that we would focus our energy on fighting the ruling party rather than internal issues."
"This is a critical time when the Lee Jae-myung administration is trying to erase his own trial from public attention and the Democratic Party's arrogance is reaching a serious level," Son said. "If you truly care about the party and our candidates, cheer on the candidates around you and fight together."