Kim Jong-in visits Beopjusa to meet Joo Ho-young 'in seclusion'... Did he send a comeback message?

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party (left), is meeting and conversing with Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party (right), on the 20th at Beopjusa Temple in Boeun-gun, Chungbuk.
[Photo by Kim Sung-won]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, personally met with Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the Future United Party, who is protesting the Democratic Party's unilateral appointment of standing committee chairs and has been in seclusion at Beopjusa Temple in Chungbuk. It is believed that Chairman Kim conveyed messages not only about managing the political situation but also persuading him to return.

Kim Sung-won, the United Future Party's Deputy Floor Leader, posted on Facebook on the 20th, "Chairman Kim and Floor Leader Joo exchanged warm greetings and shared good words about the proper management of the political situation in the Republic of Korea, which is currently facing a crisis," and uploaded photos capturing the atmosphere at the meeting.

Deputy Floor Leader Kim said, "Recently, many citizens are deeply worried due to North Korea's provocative threats and the Moon Jae-in administration's submissive diplomacy. The threat to citizens' right to survival from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is intensifying, along with the deepening economic crisis," adding, "Truly, the Republic of Korea is currently in a difficult, tough, and frustrating situation, much like the early heatwave bringing continuous hot weather."

He continued, "In the Buddhist Avatamsaka Sutra, it is said, 'A river must let go of water to reach the sea. A tree must let go of flowers to bear fruit.' To overcome this crisis, it is time for the ruling and opposition parties to unite, cooperate, and coexist," emphasizing, "The Democratic Party must deeply reflect that it is time for politics based on the natural order of emptying and filling for a greater cause, rather than a small greed leading to a great loss (小貪大失)."

Earlier, Floor Leader Joo expressed his intention to resign on the 15th in protest against the Democratic Party's unilateral appointment of standing committee chairs and has been in seclusion at temples in Chungnam and Honam. Although party members have reaffirmed their trust in him and tried to persuade him to return, he has firmly refused so far. On the 18th, in a phone interview with Yonhap News, he also expressed a strong stance, saying, "I have no intention of returning." He stated that he would not return unless the Democratic Party withdraws the appointment of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair and makes other changes.

It is believed that Chairman Kim also tried to persuade Floor Leader Joo to return during their meeting. Previously, at a meeting with first-term lawmakers on the 19th, Chairman Kim said, "(Floor Leader Joo) will come up after the weekend, and a decision can be made on how to participate in the formation of the National Assembly."

While the United Future Party is implementing a full boycott of the standing committee schedule, voices within the party are calling for participation in standing committees on urgent issues such as the North Korean nuclear threat. Lawmaker Jang Je-won suggested on Facebook, "This is a national crisis. I hope the National Defense Committee and the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee can be operational," and Lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung also said, "Let's lead the normalization of the three major foreign and security standing committees (National Defense, Foreign Affairs and Unification, Intelligence) by the United Future Party."

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