[Comprehensive] 'Baek Jong-won Presidential Bid' Interpretations Diverge... "Politically Unethical" vs "A Message to Step Up"

Kim Jong-in "How about someone like Baek Jong-won as the next presidential candidate?"
Jang Je-won "Don't market yourself using the position given by the party"
Oh Se-hoon "Mentioning Baek Jong-won as a presidential candidate? It's a message to step up"

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, is arriving at the main building of the National Assembly on the morning of the 26th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Various reactions and interpretations are emerging in the political sphere regarding Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, mentioning Baek Jong-won, a businessman and broadcaster and CEO of The Born Korea, as a potential next presidential candidate. While some view Kim's so-called 'Baek Jong-won presidential theory' positively, interpreting it as a message to "make more efforts," some lawmakers criticize that only Baek CEO has been unfairly sacrificed.

On the 29th, Park Beom-gye, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said, "It is a shrewd strategy typical of Chairman Kim. It is a highly sophisticated strategy that leaves room to present new figures," adding, "It is also a kind of warning and a catfish effect aimed at urging the existing United Future Party presidential candidates to step up while also suggesting that new figures can be found to surprise."

However, Park also said, "It is very unfortunate and politically unethical that CEO Baek Jong-won was sacrificed in this regard," and criticized, "Why not just make him a real presidential candidate?"

Jo Hae-jin, a United Future Party lawmaker who appeared on the broadcast together, also expressed concern about the Baek CEO controversy, saying, "Whether intentional or not, marketing is happening," but added, "I worry that the talk about presidential candidates might go off track."

Jang Je-won, member of the United Future Party. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Chairman Kim mentioned CEO Baek as a next presidential candidate during a meeting with first-term party members.

Jo Su-jin, a United Future Party lawmaker who attended the meeting, posted on her Facebook on the 23rd, "When Chairman Kim smiled and said, 'How about someone like Baek Jong-won?' some attendees replied that the ruling party had offered a nomination in Seoul's Gangnam district during the last general election."

She continued, "Chairman Kim kept smiling and said, 'Baek Jong-won seems to be liked by people of all ages and genders. There seems to be no one who dislikes him,'" recounting the situation.

Reactions in the political world to the so-called 'Baek Jong-won presidential theory' vary. On the 27th, Jang Je-won, a United Future Party lawmaker, criticized Chairman Kim, saying, "There are mocking jokes circulating about the United Future Party candidates, like 'It's Lim Young-woong rather than Baek Jong-won,' or 'No, it's Youngtak.' It is truly bitter to see the party being ridiculed due to the Emergency Committee Chairman's empty words."

He added, "I hope the party does not try to manipulate the presidential candidate position using the position we provided," and warned, "If someone tried to use the position we gave for their own marketing, that would be even more unacceptable."

On the other hand, some responded positively to Chairman Kim's remarks. Oh Se-hoon, former mayor of Seoul from the United Future Party, appeared on CBS Radio's Kim Hyun-jung's News Show on the 24th and said, "We should not take Chairman Kim's words at face value," interpreting it as "a message to work harder and make more efforts."

Lee Hye-hoon, former United Future Party lawmaker, also interpreted on the same broadcast on the 26th, "(Chairman Kim) conveyed that he feels frustrated enough to say such things," and said, "It reflects a sense of the need for this kind of message."

Baek Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea. Photo by The Born Korea

CEO Baek has dismissed the possibility of entering politics. In a phone interview with Yonhap News on the 23rd, he said, "I have never even dreamed of running for president, and I am currently enjoying my work the most."

He added, "It was such a surprising story that I just laughed it off," and said, "Since the report has been widely circulated, I am saying this to prevent any misunderstandings."

Meanwhile, CEO Baek revealed that he was offered a proportional representation candidacy before the April 13, 2016 general election.

At that time, when a radio program host asked, "Did you receive any proportional representation offers during the general election?" Baek drew a line, saying, "Oh no, don't say such a serious thing." He added, "Let me say again, I have absolutely no interest in politics, even putting my son on the line."

Baek emphasized again, "I have no interest in politics at all," and said, "Many people around me have suggested I enter politics. But if my children changed their names, please think, 'Maybe they are going into politics.' But that will never happen. They just have to work hard at their own jobs."

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