Jo Hae-jin: "'40s Generation Theory' Talk While Party Leader Is in His 80s? It Doesn't Add Up"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Jo Hae-jin, the elected member of the Future United Party, has put a brake on the transition to a provisional emergency committee (PEC) system, saying that the PEC has "become a routine rather than an emergency." He also criticized former Chief Election Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in, who was nominated as the PEC chairman, for advocating the 'generation of 40s theory,' saying, "He says he will be the party leader himself even though he is over 80, which is inconsistent."

On the 28th, Jo said on TBS Radio's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory,' "Former Chairman Kim said he would create a presidential candidate in their 40s and make the PEC members in their 30s to 40s. If that aligns with the spirit of the times, then the more important party leader should also be in their 30s or 40s," he said.

He added, "But then he says he himself, who is over 80, will be the party leader, which, in my view, is inconsistent," and pointed out, "If the idea is that a president in their 40s should emerge and the party leader should be younger, that would be fine. But after saying all that and claiming to be younger, he, who is over 80, wants to be the face of the party, so the words don't match."

Jo also hinted at suspicions that former Chairman Kim intends to exclude specific presidential candidates such as former Liberty Korea Party leader Hong Joon-pyo and lawmaker Yoo Seung-min. Jo said, "I don't think Floor Leader Shim Jae-cheol or the leadership intends to exclude specific candidates, but former Chairman Kim has clearly expressed that idea publicly," saying, "He said he would stay until he creates the candidate himself and make it with his own hands, and said Hong Joon-pyo, Yoo Seung-min, and Ahn Cheol-soo are not qualified. He specifically labeled the 40s age group as economic experts. (Someone) exists," he said.

He also expressed doubts about the process of the 'Kim Jong-in PEC.' Jo said, "After the election, it is customary to hold an elected members' general meeting first, evaluate the election, set the direction for the next four-year term, discuss urgent tasks, and then start the term," adding, "The leadership ignored this and held the national committee first, postponing the elected members' general meeting, reversing the order."

He continued, "They said they called elected members one-on-one to transition to the PEC, but since the leadership system is a very important issue, opinions should be exchanged," and added, "The party requested to hold the elected members' general meeting first to discuss and then hold the national committee for re-election, but that was ignored. It keeps giving me the feeling that there is some intention behind this."

He also raised the argument that the PEC is useless. He said, "During the four years I was outside, the Saenuri Party and Liberty Korea Party had three PECs in the 20th National Assembly," and pointed out, "Since the party was not normalized with one PEC, another PEC was established after a while, and then again. If we have the Kim Jong-in PEC this time, it means having four PECs in a four-year term. It's a PEC, but it has become a routine rather than an emergency."

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