Cho Eung-chun, the Reform Party's candidate for Gyeonggi Province governor, on Wednesday officially proposed an emergency joint meeting of opposition candidates running for top posts in the Seoul metropolitan area, labeling the Democratic Party of Korea's "fabricated indictment" special prosecutor bill as "judicial insurrection."
The proposal is seen as both a justification and a foundational step toward building a "pan-conservative unified candidacy," a critical variable in the upcoming Gyeonggi gubernatorial race, by forming a united front to block the Democratic Party's unchecked advance.
At an emergency press conference held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Cho sharply criticized the ruling party. "The Democratic Party has finally pushed through the fabricated indictment special prosecutor bill, a 'crime-erasing special prosecutor law,' to cover up all the crimes of party leader Lee Jae-myung," Cho said. "If the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's martial law was an insurrection, then the Democratic Party's conduct is a judicial insurrection."
Citing the Roman legal principle that "no one can be a judge in their own case," he warned that the constitutional system and criminal justice order would collapse if the special prosecutor bill is forced through.
Cho particularly took aim at his rival, Democratic Party candidate Choo Mi-ae, as the figure behind the situation. "As chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, candidate Choo led the buildup of this monster special prosecutor bill," he said, pressuring her to "state a clear position on the problems of this law as a matter of legal conscience."
He then proposed an emergency meeting at 3 p.m. that afternoon with opposition candidates in the Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul Mayor candidate Oh Se-hoon, urging a joint response that transcends political camps.
Cho's move aligns with recent discussions of opposition alliances surrounding the Gyeonggi gubernatorial race. When he declared his candidacy on October 28, Cho had criticized both major parties, saying "there will be no unified candidacy." However, with the Democratic Party confirming Rep. Choo Mi-ae as its candidate and the People Power Party also completing its candidate selection, a full-fledged three-way race has taken shape.
Against this backdrop, the possibility of a "pan-conservative unified candidacy" to check the Democratic Party's dominance is gradually emerging in political circles. Attention is focused on whether this proposal for a joint meeting will serve as a decisive turning point in opening the way for unification among opposition candidates.
