Jo Kyung-tae "Kim Jong-in is not bad... If the emergency committee lasts too long, it doesn't suit his personality"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Cho Kyung-tae, the only member of the United Future Party's Supreme Council to survive the general election and who proposed an 'early party convention,' expressed a positive view of former Chief Election Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in, who is currently a strong candidate for the emergency committee chairman, saying "He is not bad." However, he emphasized that the nature of the emergency committee should be limited to damage control, stating, "If it drags on too long, it would not fit the nature of the emergency committee."

On the 20th, Cho appeared on BBS Radio's 'Lee Sang-hwi's Morning Journal' and said, "The role of this emergency committee should be to manage the aftermath of the general election results."

He added, "The emergency committee must operate exceptionally. If the period becomes too long, it might not suit its purpose. Whether it is Chairman Kim Jong-in or someone else, if distinguished individuals can help reorganize the ranks, I hope they will lead well until a new leadership is formed."

Regarding the debate over the appointment of the emergency committee chairman, he said, "The media's expression of 'internal strife' is excessive. Naturally, members can express their opinions during the recovery process." He added, "Since many opinions are coming out that they want former Chief Election Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in to take the emergency committee chairman position, if many party members want that, I think it would not be a bad direction to take."

He also emphasized the need to form a new leadership. He said, "Many party members have expressed the desire to quickly recover from the shock of defeat and start anew." He added, "There are many messages suggesting that, according to the party constitution and rules, a new leadership should be formed centered on the 21st elected members."

Cho stressed that internal party issues should be resolved within the party rather than by the emergency committee. He said, "The Liberty Korea Party, the predecessor of the United Future Party, also had many emergency committees. Each time, there were many talks about innovation and reform, but did anything really change?" He added, "I believe a more thorough self-reflection and reform are necessary internally, and some party members have expressed that 'we need to make efforts to solve problems on our own and cultivate self-reliance.'"

To this end, he proposed moving the scheduled party convention in August forward by a month or two. Cho said, "To manage these issues within the party, although the party convention is originally scheduled for August according to the party constitution and rules, I think it would not be a big problem to hold it a month or two earlier." Regarding being considered a candidate for floor leader, he responded, "If a role is given to me in this crisis situation, I am ready to dedicate myself."

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