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Guests: Jang Yun-mi, spokesperson for the Democratic Party; Song Young-hoon, former spokesperson for the People Power Party.With the leading digit of the countdown to the local elections shifting from 2 to 1 today and official candidate registration now closed, both parties’ leaderships have ramped up campaign activity. Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae chaired a campaign committee meeting in Jeju after visiting Ulleungdo. The People Power Party convened its central campaign committee and formally entered full election mode. We discuss these developments with Jang Yun-mi and Song Young-hoon.Question 1First, let’s start with today’s U.S.-China summit—the first meeting between the two leaders in nine years. Observers scrutinized every gesture, from handshakes to tie colors, but the meeting produced no concrete outcomes such as a joint statement. How do you assess the summit?Question 2On the flight home, President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he and President Xi exchanged views on North Korea. He also said he does not view Taiwan as “a dispute” and claimed he made no promises. Regarding talks to end hostilities with Iran, he suggested a 20-year halt to Iran’s nuclear program would be acceptable. How do you interpret those remarks?Question 3Turning to domestic news: President Lee Jae-myung has been extremely active. Two days ago he visited the Ulsan shipyard and a local market; today he toured the Daegu–Gyeongbuk new airport site and attended a rice-planting ceremony. The People Power Party says this goes beyond normal presidential activity and amounts to direct campaigning, warning it will pursue legal action if it happens again. The Democratic Party responded, asking whether the president should do nothing at all. What’s your read?Question 4Both party leaders are campaigning intensively. Democratic leader Jeong visited Jeju after Ulleungdo, while the People Power Party has set up a campaign committee centered on its leader, Jang. Jeong has strongly criticized the People Power Party’s campaign team, and Jang has intensified attacks on the opposition. How do you interpret these exchanges?Question 5A major wildcard in this election is candidate unification. With ballot printing imminent and the golden window for consolidation running through the 17th, talks among progressive candidates have accelerated. In Ulsan, Democratic candidate Kim Sang-wook and Progressive Party candidate Kim Jong-hoon agreed to unify their bids. How effective do you expect that unification to be?Question 6At the same time, attention is on whether Democratic candidate Kim Yong-nam, Jo Guk of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, and Progressive Party leader Kim Jae-yeon will unify in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. So far, the talks have largely been posturing. Meanwhile, former Blue House senior secretary for civil affairs Lee Ho-cheol, a Democratic Party member, publicly endorsed Jo Guk and criticized Kim Yong-nam. How do you expect these developments to affect progressive voters?Question 7By contrast, tensions are high among center-right contenders in Busan’s North District. Can People Power candidate Park Min-sik and independent Han Dong-hoon reach a unity agreement? Views differ. Conservative lawmaker Jin Jong-oh urged party leadership to intervene and start unity talks, while others question whether unification would be beneficial. Do you think combining forces would clearly favor one candidate?Question 8Park Min-sik’s campaign has strong backing: senior figures Na Kyung-won and Ahn Cheol-soo have joined his team, signaling clear party support. Some within the People Power leadership have suggested they might consider readmitting Han Dong-hoon to the party if he concedes in unity talks. Is that a realistic possibility?Yonhap News TV — Inquiries and tips: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23, Choi Byung-yoon (yoonique@yna.co.kr)
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