A battle over who represents the "true democratic camp" erupted Friday between Kim Yong-nam, the Democratic Party of Korea (DP) candidate, and Cho Kuk, the Rebuilding Korea Party candidate, in the parliamentary by-election for Pyeongtaek-B in Gyeonggi Province. With the two parties locked in a tight race, both sides have grown sensitive to concerns that the progressive vote could be split.
At a central election committee meeting held at his Pyeongtaek office, Cho took aim at the DP leadership's support rally for Kim the previous day, saying, "Regrettably, the DP's Pyeongtaek-B candidate and parts of the leadership opposed the effort to build a bigger and stronger democratic reform camp yesterday." He added, "It has become clear who is the right person to fulfill the aspirations of the great citizens of Pyeongtaek and the democratic reform camp."
Cho's remarks were directed at comments made the previous day by Cho Seoung-rae, the DP's general election committee chief, and other party leaders who had visited Pyeongtaek to support Kim. The election committee chief had targeted Cho Kuk by saying, "Kim Yong-nam, chosen by President Lee Jae-myung and nominated by the Democratic Party, is the real Democratic Party candidate."
In response to Cho Kuk's criticism, Cho Seoung-rae held a press briefing at the National Assembly and fired back, "He should compete under the Rebuilding Korea Party's name. Why does he keep running elections wearing the Democratic Party mask? Take off the mask." He continued, "Cho Kuk calls himself the 'representative of the democratic camp,' but who said he was the representative? Would Progressive Party leader Kim Jae-yeon agree?"
DP spokesperson Jeon Soo-mi also expressed regret in a statement, saying, "We express regret over the conduct of the Rebuilding Korea Party and candidate Cho Kuk, who are inviting division by insisting on 'going it alone' rather than serving the broader cause of an overwhelming victory for the democratic reform camp." Jeon added pointedly, "While the Democratic Party clearly has its own candidate, his claim that he will become 'a powerful engine to make the Lee Jae-myung administration successful' is embarrassing."
