Cho Kuk, Kim Jae-yeon Leaders Meet at Pyeongtaek Market, Exchange 'Phone Call' Jabs

Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, and Kim Jae-yeon, standing representative of the Progressive Party, met on the 18th at the Paengseong traditional market in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. Kim told Cho, "Please answer my calls too."

The meeting between the two figures took place concerning the constituency of Pyeongtaek-eul, where Cho declared his candidacy. Pyeongtaek-eul became a constituency requiring a by-election due to the invalidation of the election of former Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Byeong-jin, and Kim had previously announced her intention to run there. Cho officially announced his candidacy for Pyeongtaek-eul on the 14th, stating that an alliance with the Progressive Party was not a reason to refrain from fielding a candidate.

When Kim demanded the withdrawal of his candidacy, calling it "an entry without great cause or principle," Cho countered, questioning whether a major political party fielding a candidate was a matter of integrity.