Independent candidate Han Dong-hoon for Busan Buk-gu Gap said on the 21st about People Power Party candidate Park Min-sik, "Even if candidate Ha Jung-woo is elected, it seems clear that his position is to block Han Dong-hoon." Park had labeled Han a "traitor."
After finishing a campaign launch rally that day at a pocket park near Gupo Market in Busan's Buk-gu, Han told reporters, "I am not trying to use Buk-gu as a stepping stone; I am saying I will be Buk-gu's stepping stone."
Earlier, Park said of Han, "For his own political ambition, he used Buk-gu as a disposable kindling and then discarded it, and for political ambition, he defines everyone else in the conservative camp as enemies." He also shaved his head, saying, "I will not unify with the traitor Han Dong-hoon."
Han also said, "I promised to lay my bones in Buk-gu and make up for the 20 years Buk-gu has lost until now."
In his launch rally speech that day, Han said, "I will not evasively dodge the claim that 'Han Dong-hoon is Yoon Suk-yeol's traitor,'" adding, "I chose not Yoon Suk-yeol but the Republic of Korea and the people."
He added, "I protected the people of the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea, and even if the situation were the same a hundred or a thousand times, I would do the same without a second thought."
Han also said, "With thinking like 'Yoon again,' can our conservatives take back power?" and added, "We will hand over the next administration, too."
He continued, "If we do not win, Jang Dong-hyeok's pro-leadership faction and the regressive forces whose social and political reckoning is over will ruin conservatives further," adding, "Then rebuilding the conservative side will become truly difficult, and we will lose the next general election and miss the presidential election."