Two Perspectives of the United Party on Kim Jong-in... 'Mercenary' or 'Young Thinker'

Jeju Province Governor Won Hee-ryong attended the Future Innovation Forum held at the National Assembly on the 9th and spoke with Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party. Governor Won gave a lecture on basic income at the forum that day. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Perspectives on Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman within the United Future Party, are divided. Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju Province and considered one of the potential leaders of the United Future Party, referred to Chairman Kim as a "mercenary" on the 9th, while Representative Ha Tae-kyung positively evaluated him as "the person with the youngest mindset."

On the 9th, Governor Won, during a lecture at the "Republic of Korea Future Innovation Forum" led by Representative Jang Je-won of the United Future Party, stated, "To overcome the crisis head-on, we must restore the conservative gene and win," adding, "Above all, the important thing is that the victory must be our victory. Not a victory by mercenaries, but a victory by us."

By describing Chairman Kim as a "mercenary," he warned against Kim's "post-conservative" moves, saying, "We must wear the uniform of conservatism that led Korea's historically bold changes and win." However, he also emphasized the necessity of Kim's presence by saying, "We must win with the entries of our comrades who left and returned when the party was in trouble," and "Just as we needed Hiddink, we also need a mercenary foreign coach, a mercenary," underscoring the need for Chairman Kim.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the other hand, on the same day, Representative Ha evaluated on Facebook, "Since Kim Jong-in's emergency committee took office, the party's approval rating has slightly increased," calling it "a good start." Ha added, "After the general election, the Democratic Party's actions are excessively backward-looking," and "Instead, the Kim Jong-in regime has taken the lead in future discourse such as material freedom and youth basic income."

He said, "Of course, there are criticisms within the party that the emergency committee chairman does not fight and questions whether we are heading toward socialism. Such criticism is possible," emphasizing, "But the public sentiment in the 21st general election confirmed that people want an alternative opposition party rather than a confrontational opposition party."

Representative Ha said, "Since the Kim Jong-in regime, our party has become a fresh alternative opposition party," adding, "Even if basic income is considered socialist, Chairman Kim is not trying to overturn our system but to accept some elements. Deng Xiaoping, a socialist, also said to accept capitalism with the story of black cat, white cat; should Korea's conservatives be more rigid than Chinese socialists?" he questioned.

He continued, "Of course, we must pursue economic growth, but in the 21st century, economic growth alone cannot solve unemployment. The biggest victims are the youth, and in the absence of other alternatives, youth basic income is a topic worth discussing," concluding, "Chairman Kim is biologically the oldest in our party, but his thinking is the youngest."

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