Reform Party Accepts Chun Haram's Suncheon Move; Chun: "I'll Do My Best for Results" as Rift Eases for Now

Tensions within the Reform Party over the constituency of floor leader Chun Haram appear to be easing. The party has decided to lift its suspension of Chun’s appointment as chair of the Suncheon Gap organization committee in Jeonnam-Gwangju. The Reform Party said, “We will respect his wishes and finalize the candidate nomination early,” while Chun said, “I will do my best.”

Yonhap News Agency

Lee Giin, chair of the Reform Party’s emergency committee, said at a meeting of the committee held at the National Assembly on the morning of October 29, “I remain convinced that we need to focus the party’s capabilities on southern Gyeonggi, but I have decided that, as someone responsible for the party, I must now find a way to reconcile differences and deliver results.”

Earlier, Lee proposed a plan to assign incumbent lawmakers to southern Gyeonggi, a strategic region for the party. But Chun, who has built a political base in Suncheon, rejected the proposal, saying, “The more difficult the times, the more important it is to uphold our principles and maintain the public’s trust.” The two had differed over strategy for the next general election.

Addressing Chun, Lee said, “Since the party has respected your personal choice, I hope you will also help advance our shared strategy,” adding, “While building your base in Suncheon, please also contribute to the success of our strategy for southern Gyeonggi through recruiting talent, developing policies and providing support on the ground. I, too, will take responsibility for this decision.”

After the meeting, when reporters asked whether the focus strategy for southern Gyeonggi had become more difficult, Lee said, “It is only that floor leader Chun will not run in southern Gyeonggi,” adding, “The rest of us, including me and Secretary-General Jeon Seonggyun, will make preparations to ensure the strategy for southern Gyeonggi stays on track.”

In response, Chun said, “I am sincerely grateful. We may have somewhat different views on the approach, but we share the same desire for the Reform Party to succeed,” adding, “I, too, will do my best to help our party achieve good results not only in Jeonnam-Gwangju and Suncheon, but also in southern Gyeonggi.”

Chun also said, “Many party members and supporters have pointed out that my activities in the Suncheon area are not yet sufficient to make winning an election a realistic goal,” adding, “I humbly accept that criticism and will work even harder in the time ahead in my activities at party headquarters, my legislative work and my work in the Suncheon area.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.