Former Rebuilding Korea Party emergency response Chairperson Cho Kuk announced a run for party leader in the convention to be held on the 23rd. On the local elections to be held in June next year, Cho did not lay out specific plans but said, "I have particular interest in Busan."
On the morning of the 10th at the National Assembly press room, former Chairperson Cho held a press conference declaring a run for party leader and said, "I will become a 'political catfish' and blow a wind of innovation and competition into the political market carved up by the two parties," adding, "We will build a party as hard as steel so it does not sway at the half-baked and rude talk of an absorption merger."
Former Chairperson Cho dismissed as a personal opinion talk of a "merger with the Democratic Party" being raised by some in the Democratic Party, saying there had been no official proposal. Cho also avoided giving a direct answer regarding being floated as a candidate for heads of metropolitan governments such as Seoul, Busan, and Gwangju, or for constituencies in by-elections. However, Cho said that because Busan is the hometown, it drew the most interest.
After finishing the press conference, Cho met reporters and, when asked about the "possibility of running in the local elections," said, "Somewhere they post polls saying I'm running for Seoul mayor, and in Busan they say Busan mayor or Buk-gu. A friend in Gwangju asks if I'm coming out in Gwangju," adding, "I would like to convey that I wish I could become SONOKONG." The meaning is that, like SONOKONG who creates multiple clones using hair, Cho wishes there were multiple bodies.
Cho added, "My hometown is Busan, and I have particular interest in the situation in Busan. However, this is not the time to talk about my personal course," and, "Once the Rebuilding Korea Party's local election strategy is set, to use a Go analogy, we will place the stones as the very last move."
If elected party leader, Cho plans to immediately form a local election planning task force and serve as head of talent recruitment. Cho also set a goal of fielding one candidate each, regardless of Yeongnam or Honam, in multi-member districts with three or more seats in basic council elections nationwide, and making the number of People Power Party winners in metropolitan mayor and governor races "zero."
Cho said, "We will make the number of People Power Party winners—who clearly display far-right, insurrection-apologist, pro-Yoon Suk-yeol, far-right tendencies—'zero,'" and added, "We will field one candidate in each multi-member district with three or more seats in basic council elections so that that one person becomes the political catfish of the area."
Cho said, "We will recruit many talents such as young people, women, and civic group activists who until now have had no relation to politics," and added, "At the same time, among those with experience in existing parties, we intend to recruit those who are in sync with us and share our thinking."
The Rebuilding Korea Party will hold a party convention on the 23rd at Osco in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, to elect a new leadership, including the party leader and supreme council members.