Is the Blue House Indifferent to the General Election? Complex Intentions Hidden Behind the Silence Order

Cheong Wa Dae Suspends Party-Government-Cheong Wa Dae Meetings Until General Election... 21st General Election, a Turning Point for Moon Administration, National Governance Momentum Depends on Results

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] "The results of this general election are truly important."

This was the statement delivered by Im Jong-seok, former Chief of Staff to the President, after joining the campaign rally supporting Go Min-jung, former Blue House spokesperson, who is running in Gwangjin-eul, Seoul, on the 2nd. The 21st general election on the 15th will be a turning point that determines the fate of the Moon Jae-in administration. The Blue House is also aware of the importance of this election.

However, the Blue House has imposed a gag order regarding the general election. This is related to President Moon Jae-in's message to refrain from any actions that might influence the election. Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok said, "President Moon instructed the Blue House Office of Political Affairs, which handles National Assembly and party affairs, not to engage in any other work related to the election to avoid even the slightest misunderstanding."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This means focusing the state administration on responding to the 'novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19)'. The Blue House has also suspended high-level party-government-Blue House meetings until the general election is over. Officially, it is showing a 'general election disinterest mode,' but in reality, no organization is more interested in the election results than the Blue House.

Former Chief of Staff Im’s remarks are not much different from the perceptions of Blue House personnel. The fact that Blue House figures such as former Senior Secretary for Public Communication Yoon Young-chan, former spokesperson Kim Eui-gyeom, and former Secretary for Public Service Discipline Choi Kang-wook have thrown their hats into the ring for this general election is related to the importance of the election.

A key Blue House official commented on the United Future Party’s 'President Moon prison meal service' video, saying, "Whether the video content is simply abusive language or a statement of hatred toward the president rooted in refusal to accept the presidential election results is something the public will probably judge." The tone clearly shows restraint.

Although the Blue House has declared it will keep its distance from the election, the reality is that it cannot help but be swept up in the whirlwind of the general election regardless of its intentions.

The Moon Jae-in administration has 2 years and 1 month left in its term. The plan to make this year one that demonstrates the administration’s achievements based on 'definite change' was disrupted by the COVID-19 crisis. Considering the remaining term, there is not much time left, and the political environment is not favorable.

A defeat of the ruling party in the 21st general election would be a shortcut to President Moon’s lame-duck period. The momentum of state affairs would rapidly decline, inevitably leading to a 'time of chaos.' The Blue House might have to wait for power transfer even before trying to do anything.

President Moon took office in May 2017, but key state affairs projects have struggled to make progress, stuck in the quagmire of a National Assembly dominated by the opposition. Whether the pro-government coalition will secure a majority in the 21st National Assembly is a variable that will determine the flow of the remaining term. If the combined seats of the Democratic Party of Korea, the Together Citizens’ Party, and the Open Democratic Party exceed 150, they will have the opportunity to handle the backlog of state affairs projects.

On the other hand, if the combined seats of the United Future Party, the Future Korea Party, and the People’s Party exceed 150, most state affairs projects will likely fail to avoid collapse. This is why, although the Blue House outwardly declares disinterest in the general election, inwardly it cannot help but have a profound interest.

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