Democratic Party's Honam Approval Plummets 20%... 'I Am Conservative' Debate Tournament a Hit

According to a Realmeter survey, the Democratic Party's approval rating in the Honam region sharply dropped from 76.9% to 55.7%, now lingering in the 20% range. This marks a significant 21.2 percentage point decrease in just one week, with analysis suggesting this downward trend has continued since the launch of the Kim Min-seok leadership. Conversely, the People Power Party's approval rating has risen, substantially narrowing the gap between the two parties.

The 'I Am Conservative' youth debate tournament was successfully held, attracting 10,000 live viewers and accumulating 150,000 views, making it a popular event. Park Min-young, media spokesperson for the People Power Party, won the tournament. Four participants, including Park Sang-hyun, Gunpo City Council member, Lee Yoon-kyu, Asan City Council member, and Choi Jae-il, Reforming New Party spokesperson, engaged in a final debate lasting over three and a half hours. This event further cemented its significance as an important platform for discovering young politicians.

Kim Hye-ji evaluated Park Min-young's victory in 'I Am Conservative' as not an upset but an expected outcome. The mere news of Park Min-young's participation in the debate tournament led to phrases like 'Beat Park Min-young,' indicating his debate skills were nationally recognized. In fact, Park Min-young has previously won several debate competitions, including 'I Am a National Athlete.'

Seonwoo Yoon-ho stated that the Democratic Party's approval rating in its stronghold of Honam plummeted by over 20%, while the People Power Party's rose sharply. According to a Realmeter survey, the Democratic Party's approval rating was 41.9% and the People Power Party's was 37.6%, showing a narrowed gap. An Energy Economic Newspaper survey revealed that Lee Jae-myung's positive assessment dropped by 2.8 percentage points to 40.2%, but the Jang Dong-hyuk system showed rising approval despite internal challenges.

The panelists refuted the claim that the decline in approval was due to a specific individual, attributing it instead to internal conflicts and external factors. They cited the past example of an approval drop during the local elections when Representative Bae Hyun-jin was removed, and argued that external factors like Mayor Oh Se-hoon's unregistered nomination application also impacted approval ratings. Therefore, they expressed a critical view that it is unfair to attribute everything to Representative Jang Dong-hyuk personally.

The panelists criticized the media's double standard: reporting that a decline in approval is due to Representative Jang Dong-hyuk, but attributing a rise to factors other than him. They strongly pointed out that certain media outlets are problematic for writing malicious articles and solely blaming specific individuals for fluctuations in approval ratings.

Representatives Yoon Sang-hyun and Na Kyung-won called for the party's disciplinary actions to be reversed, while former Mayor Hong Joon-pyo defended their legitimacy. This shows a clash between the view that disciplinary measures are necessary to establish party discipline and the view that the disciplinary actions are excessive.

Moon Seong-ho pointed out the lack of logical cohesion in Representative Jin Jong-oh's statements demanding evidence regarding allegations related to Chairman Han Dong-hoon. Criticism arose that the narrative, suggesting he was framed despite not helping Han Dong-hoon, overlooked the need to accept legitimate disciplinary action for political conduct.

Signs of Democratic Party supporters leaving have been observed on online communities like 'Cliang.' In particular, opinions such as 'If you're going to make it a tattered mess like this, better to do nothing at all' are prevalent regarding real estate policies, indicating that they perceive it as a punitive tax issue. This public disaffection is cited as one of the main reasons for the Democratic Party's declining approval rating.

The panelist criticized the Democratic Party's misguided leadership, citing the controversy over Representative Kim Min-seok bowing 90 degrees in a gangster-like manner and the disparagement of Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae. It was argued that when the opposition does not show courtesy, the conservative camp needs to prioritize combativeness over dignity and respond forcefully.

The panelist criticized 'fat cat' lawmakers who have already achieved success in life before entering politics and thus lack fighting spirit. They emphasized the need for generational change, advocating that combative individuals who can effectively confront the Democratic Party should occupy seats and receive authority.

Criticism arose that Representative Kim Min-seok's current shift to ease the comprehensive real estate tax, a policy he pushed during his past tenure as prime minister, is merely a 'cleanup.' This is analyzed as a political maneuver by the Democratic Party, attempting to rectify issues only after approval ratings dropped, after initially disregarding public opinion. It is argued that there is a lack of genuine willingness to resolve the framework of punitive taxation.

Moon Seong-ho analyzed that the primary cause of current soaring prices is the excessive increase in monetary liquidity. He explained that when too much money is in circulation, prices inevitably rise, supporting this with the example of increased taxi base fares. He pointed out that government subsidy policies have led to a vicious cycle of rising prices and labor costs.

Moon Seong-ho mentioned that Gyeonggi Province's financial crisis is so severe that Governor Choo Mi-ae has virtually declared bankruptcy. This illustrates the financial shortfalls of local governments due to reckless supplementary budget 편성, and is analyzed as a result of prolonged Democratic Party rule, which deprived conservative governments of opportunities to replenish finances. He expressed concern, characterizing Gyeonggi Province's financial crisis as a microcosm of South Korea's overall future.

Kim Hye-ji raised questions about the Democratic Party leadership's 90-degree bow to a specific individual. She wondered if elected national assembly members had ever bowed that way to the public, and noted that even reporters and aides present were taken aback. This raised curiosity about whether it was an organized and intentional act.

Kim Hye-ji strongly urged the political sphere to stop mere showmanship and focus on people's livelihoods. She criticized the neglect of soaring prices and the lack of any measures regarding the green onion price controversy or rising essential food prices like eggs. She raised her voice, stating that the government must not ignore the economic hardships faced by the public and instead devise practical solutions.