Kim Jong-in's Bold Move: "Opposition Presidential Candidates to Emerge in November"... Also Criticized as a 'Susukkeji Nori' Game

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, made a 'bold move' by stating that a new opposition presidential candidate will emerge around November this year. This appears to be an effort to bring a fresh breeze to the United Future Party, which is experiencing a severe shortage of manpower, as Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol ranks first among opposition presidential candidates in opinion polls. However, it is uncertain whether this bold move will actually succeed.

On the morning of the 2nd, Chairman Kim held a luncheon with reporters at a location in Yeouido and said, "The (opposition presidential candidate) will appear around November this year," adding, "It is normal in terms of timing to come out, express oneself, and start the (presidential) race around November." He said, "The presidential election is on March 9, 2022, and the person who will be president should show themselves 1 year and 6 months before (the presidential term starts). The ruling party is scared, so no one raises their hand to come out, but the opposition has no one to be afraid of. To show oneself, one should come out with that amount of time."

Earlier, in an interview with Yonhap News, Chairman Kim said regarding the next presidential candidate, "I know there are people outside the party who are stirring," and revealed that he had even advised those who might be likely to run before they joined the party. There are reports that Chairman Kim approached two people outside the party about a presidential bid. In political circles, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Kim Dong-yeon and Hong Jung-wook, Chairman of Organica, are being mentioned.

The people Chairman Kim described as "stirring" have not officially declared their intention to run for president. They are young figures in their 40s born after 1970 and are economic experts capable of "solving livelihood issues." The person who best fits this condition is Chairman Hong. Former Deputy Prime Minister Kim was born in 1957, so he does not meet the "born after 1970" condition. Within the United Future Party, former lawmaker Kim Se-yeon, who leads the "40s generation theory," also fits this condition.

Regarding Prosecutor General Yoon, Chairman Kim dismissed the possibility, saying, "Would someone in public office dream of the presidency? If they do, it is disloyal," but also mentioned the possibility, saying, "Koreans tend to sympathize with those who are persecuted. They might really make (Yoon) a presidential candidate."

Chairman Kim's mention of various opposition potential candidates is analyzed as an attempt to raise public expectations for opposition presidential candidates ahead of the election and to stimulate existing candidates. Governor Won Hee-ryong of Jeju and former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who have declared their presidential ambitions, have expressed their intention to work harder following Chairman Kim's remarks mentioning Baek Jong-won, CEO of Theborn Korea, as a past presidential candidate condition. However, United Future Party lawmaker Jang Je-won criticized, saying, "The Democratic Party's arrogance is about to swallow the National Assembly, and we are not so idle as to play 'sudoku' (literally 'mystery play')."

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