Kim Jaewon: "I will run in the 'difficult district' of Seoul Jungnang... Regret the lack of justification for candidate reshuffle"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jae-won, the Policy Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, officially announced his candidacy for Jungnang-eul in Seoul.

On the 10th, at the National Assembly Press Hall, Chairman Kim stated, "For the party's victory and to stop the reckless actions of the Moon Jae-in administration, if the party needs me, I will not hesitate to run in a difficult district in the metropolitan area."

He added, "Leaving my hometown and the honor of three terms in Gyeongbuk Sangju, Gunwi, Uiseong, and Cheongsong, I am running as a candidate in the primary for Jungnang-eul in Seoul. If my choice becomes a sharp spear to stop the Moon Jae-in administration's unilateral rule, I will gladly jump into the rough waves."

He also expressed regret over being cut off (excluded from nomination) despite being considered a core figure of the pro-Park faction and the Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) region. He said, "The past three years of legislative activities were extremely difficult, but I worked diligently. Despite these efforts, I was a 'TK three-term lawmaker' and so-called 'pro-Park.'"

Chairman Kim pointed out, "Regardless of winning or losing in the reshuffling of senior Yeongnam lawmakers, there is certainly a sense of regret about the justification. Our party's current incumbent replacement rate is 38.7%, but the replacement rate in Daegu-Gyeongbuk, the heart of conservatism, is 55%, and in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, it is over 50%. Many Yeongnam district lawmakers were replaced without primaries."

He indirectly expressed dissatisfaction, saying that if he were not the Policy Committee Chairman or the Budget Committee Chairman, he might have considered 'other paths' such as running as an independent. He said, "I know well that the justification for the party's victory causes wounds and frustration to some, but I regret that the party was too focused on the replacement rate. If I were not the party's Policy Committee Chairman or the National Assembly Budget Committee Chairman elected by the party's recommendation, I might have considered other paths, but knowing the weight of the position and responsibility, I accepted early on the party leadership's call to run in a difficult metropolitan district."

Right after announcing his candidacy, when asked by reporters about his regrets regarding the nomination committee, Chairman Kim said, "I will not comment," and refrained from elaborating. However, when asked whether the competitiveness is weak due to the large-scale replacement of incumbents in the TK region, he agreed, saying, "I hear that a lot too. I am worried about the outcome." Regarding the criticism that the Supreme Council members except Floor Leader Shim Jae-cheol did not receive nomination consideration, he responded, "That criticism is entirely justified."

He also expressed his ambition to run in Jungnang-eul, which has been considered an 'opposition party difficult district' for 28 years. Chairman Kim said, "As the Policy Committee Chairman, while creating pledges, I learned about various issues in Seoul, which I relatively did not know before, and the problems of Seoul city. I believe Jungnang-eul is a district where I can demonstrate my policy capabilities."

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