Kwon issued a statement on the 10th addressing the unification dispute and urged, “It’s time to stop unnecessary disputes and deliver real results.”
On whether he would acknowledge the supplementary materials attached to Kim Sang-gwon’s press conference, he said it would be appropriate to ask the Gyeongnam Superintendent Candidates’ Unification Coalition and added that, as a candidate who participated in the unification process and was ultimately selected, the unification body should explain the procedures and the content.
He said he has already proposed a “broad unification” that would include all candidates, and he respects the choices of contenders who present themselves as conservative or centrist, because running and joining unification talks are individual decisions.
While agreeing on the need for public vetting, he proposed a joint public pledge ceremony as an alternative to Kim’s suggestion of depositing funds with the court.
Kwon argued that court deposits carry significant costs and procedural burdens, so a public pledge before residents would impose a greater sense of responsibility.
As conditions for unification, he listed an expedited unification schedule, reasonable expense sharing, and a polling method that guarantees competitiveness in the general election. He said, “If these conditions are met, I will accept any format, including television debates.”
He noted that Kim has repeatedly emphasized early unification and stressed that April 25 is the final deadline to secure competitiveness in the general election.
Kwon added that anyone serious about unification should stop the wasteful disputes and engage in negotiations responsibly, and he said he understands that some discussions have already begun between campaigns.
He pledged, “I will complete a conservative–centrist unification and put an end to the progressive-led superintendent administration.”
