[iNews24 reporter Lee Yong-min] Candidates from the People Power Party running for provincial and metropolitan executive offices have formed a united front against the Democratic Party.
On May 5, candidates including Kim Young-hwan (North Chungcheong gubernatorial hopeful), Oh Se-hoon (Seoul mayoral hopeful), Yoo Jeong-bok (Incheon mayoral hopeful), Choi Min-ho (Sejong mayoral hopeful), Yang Hyang-ja (Gyeonggi gubernatorial hopeful), Kim Jin-tae (Gangwon gubernatorial hopeful), and Yang Jeong-moo (North Jeolla gubernatorial hopeful) held an emergency press conference in front of Bosingak in Seoul to block the so-called "Special Prosecutor Act on Fabricated Indictments."
In a written resolution, they condemned the ruling party's runaway tactics and unilateral lawmaking, saying those moves are eroding the country's institutional order and amount, effectively, to a legislative insurrection.
Kim Young-hwan called their conduct a grave threat to the nation's foundations and described the upcoming election as a fight to defend democracy and revive an economy that has been hollowed out for ordinary people.
He warned that South Korea now faces a desperate situation with no room to back down and urged supporters to adopt the resolve of defenders holding the last line.
He added, "Through this election, we will restore the country and begin change starting in North Chungcheong."
Kim has been active in seeking unity — on April 21 he proposed joint pledges to other People Power Party regional candidates.
Observers say he appears to believe that presenting a united front will help consolidate the party's base, since internal discord during the nomination process has been cited as a reason for the party's falling approval ratings.
