Son Hye-won: "No Need to Worry About Presidential Approval Ratings"

To diagnose the current crisis in the progressive democratic camp, former lawmaker Son Hye-won, Mokpo City Council member Park Yong-jun (Independent), and Mokpo City Council member Jang Ga-young (Rebuilding Korea Party) gathered in Mokpo. They diagnosed the current situation and discussed future strategies, focusing on the deepened intra-party conflict after the party convention and the issue of merging with the Rebuilding Korea Party.

Former lawmaker Son Hye-won began the meeting by saying, "Hello, it's been a while." With different affiliations and backgrounds, they engaged in an in-depth conversation about the various issues currently facing the progressive democratic camp.

Mokpo City Council member Park Yong-jun revealed that after involuntarily leaving the Democratic Party, he has been working to defeat Council member Kim Won-hee. He explained that after receiving a heavy disciplinary action to prevent Council member Kim Won-hee from running in the election, he boldly left the party to run and was elected as an independent.

Council member Park stated, "I received a severe disciplinary action, somewhat manipulated, to prevent Council member Kim Won-hee from running in the election, and I boldly left the party to run for election and was proudly elected as an independent," expressing his strong determination as an independent politician.

Mokpo City Council member Jang Ga-young introduced herself as having been elected as a proportional representative of the Rebuilding Korea Party and currently active in the Mokpo City Council. She stated, "Hello, I am Council member Jang Ga-young, elected as a proportional representative of the Rebuilding Korea Party for Mokpo City, and I am active in the Mokpo City Council," showing her commitment to contributing to local community development as a member of the Rebuilding Korea Party.

The moderator diagnosed that the progressive democratic camp has recently faced a precarious situation of division due to internal conflicts after the party convention and the issue of merging with the Rebuilding Korea Party. In particular, the decline in party leader Lee Jae-myung's approval ratings was pointed out as raising concerns about a change of government.

The moderator stated, "Recently, the progressive democratic camp has been somewhat divided and precarious. During the party convention, there was conflict, and now that the Democratic Party's convention is over, there is a very sharp war of nerves over the issue of merging with the Rebuilding Korea Party," emphasizing the seriousness of the current situation.

Former lawmaker Son Hye-won analyzed that Jo Guk's proactive moves could actually work against him. She assessed that, similar to the case of writer Yoo Si-min, the more Jo Guk directly steps forward, the more difficult it would be to build trust and consolidate support.

Former lawmaker Son stated, "I still think that, like writer Yoo Si-min, the more Jo Guk, the leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, directly steps forward, the more disadvantageous it will be for him," expressing concern about Jo Guk's future actions.

Former lawmaker Son Hye-won diagnosed that the current decline in approval ratings is not a major concern. She referred to her experience as head of public relations for the New Politics Alliance for Democracy in 2015 when approval ratings were in the teens, comparing the current situation to the past.

Former lawmaker Son said, "I don't think you need to worry about these approval ratings at all. When I first joined the New Politics Alliance for Democracy as the head of public relations in 2015, the approval rating was in the teens," pointing out that the fundamental cause of the decline in approval ratings lies in internal conflicts and recalling the internal division during former party leader Moon Jae-in's time.

Former lawmaker Son Hye-won emphasized that the current decline in approval ratings is not due to the departure of swing voters but rather an expression of dissatisfaction towards party leader Lee Jae-myung among the Democratic Party's support base, and there is no need to worry much. She predicted that approval ratings could recover as there is still ample time until the election.

Former lawmaker Son stated, "It's coming out as 'I don't like Lee Jae-myung.' So there's nothing to worry about, and the election is still far away. We don't need to give anything to them; that's not a concern at all, though our people might feel a bit uncomfortable. But I don't think there's anything to worry about," adding that approval ratings could recover by presenting concrete achievements and visions after the holidays.

Mokpo City Council member Park Yong-jun analyzed that the excessive mutual slander and criticism during the Democratic Party's convention were the main reasons for the current decline in approval ratings. He pointed out that such mutual slander becoming public has resulted in the effect of declining approval ratings.

Council member Park stated, "I think that because there was so much mutual hurting and slander during the party convention, those things are now surfacing and causing a drop in approval ratings," adding that there is a concern about exposing weaknesses that could give the opposing camp an excuse for attack. He emphasized that harmony and presenting a vision will be important in the process of deciding the next presidential candidate.

The moderator recalled the Democratic Party's experience of overcoming approval ratings in the teens in the past, suggesting that the current temporary division and conflict can also be overcome. Council member Park Yong-jun also emphasized that if policy achievements are made and internal unity is fostered, recovering approval ratings would not be difficult.

The moderator stated, "The Democratic Party also had times when its approval rating was 10%. And Council member Park Yong-jun, you also believe that although the Democratic Party is temporarily divided, fighting, and in conflict, it can fully achieve policy results, and if it reunites internally, recovering approval ratings won't be difficult," emphasizing that policy achievements and internal cohesion are key to recovering approval ratings rather than temporary conflicts.

Mokpo City Council member Jang Ga-young argued that the Rebuilding Korea Party and the Democratic Party should ease undemocratic aspects, such as the negotiating body issue, and establish a win-win relationship. She mentioned the worsening public sentiment in Mokpo regarding the medical school attraction, emphasizing the urgent need to alleviate conflicts between the two parties.

Council member Jang stated, "Since the party leader has changed, I hope they will ease those undemocratic aspects like the negotiating body and similar issues, as the Rebuilding Korea Party has mentioned them, and continue to foster such a win-win relationship in the future," expressing hope for cooperation for mutual benefit after the change in the party leader system.

Former lawmaker Son Hye-won stated that independent activity is very free if one can be elected as an independent. She said, "If you can be elected as an independent, being an independent is truly good. And you have a lot of time. There's no one to call you; if I want to help someone, I can help them. I've also noticed that the people next to us seem to receive various guidelines from the party, and that's how I feel," explaining the advantages of independent politicians being able to act freely.

On the other hand, she acknowledged that politicians affiliated with parties have a role in balancing party directives and public sentiment, emphasizing the difference in their respective political roles.