Jang Je-won: "Kim Jong-in Blocks Opposition Alliance and Reinstatement... Signs of Party Privatization"

"An Cheol-soo, Leader of the People’s Party, Dismisses Interest in Alliance Issue"
"Blocks Return of Influential Figures Outside the Party"
"Emergency Committee Should Not Become New Establishment and Act Territorial"

Jang Je-won, People Power Party lawmaker / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Jang Je-won, a member of the People Power Party (formerly the United Future Party), criticized Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman, on the occasion of his 100th day in office, suggesting that Kim shows signs of attempting to privatize the party.

On the 3rd, Jang wrote on his Facebook, pointing out that Kim dismissed the issue of alliance with Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People Party, saying "I have no interest and no need to be interested." He also mentioned that Kim recently said about former lawmaker Hong Jung-wook, "Is it enough to be young and just have good looks?" and criticized that Kim is blocking the return of influential figures from outside the party.

At an online press conference held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, marking his 100th day in office, Kim was asked about the possibility of an alliance with Ahn. He responded, "We are holding a press conference to mark 100 days since my appointment as the People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman, but I don't understand why there are so many questions about Ahn Cheol-soo," adding, "There is no need to know what Ahn thinks politically, and I have no specific reason to answer."

Regarding the recruitment of external figures, Kim said, "If people outside the party become interested in us, they will naturally be absorbed, creating conditions to produce a presidential candidate," and added, "By transforming the party internally into a form loved by the public, I am confident that a presidential candidate will naturally emerge from within our party."

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is answering reporters' questions using an online video conferencing system at a press conference marking his 100th day in office, held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 3rd. / Photo by Yonhap News

In response, Jang said, "Is there even a dominant figure in the anti-Moon Jae-in camp within the party? There is already an outcry about the lack of candidates, so how many talents would bow down just because they are told to?" He emphasized, "Even if the entire anti-Moon Jae-in camp forms alliances upon alliances to oppose, if you divide, draw lines, and lock the doors, the People Power Party will degenerate into 'Our Power'."

He continued, "The Emergency Response Committee must not become a new vested interest and act territorially," adding, "We must unite and integrate more broadly and greatly. The most important value now is regime change, and I hope the ominous sign of privatizing the party is just a groundless fear."

Meanwhile, on the previous day (the 2nd), Jang also criticized Kim, saying his "autocratic leadership is becoming entrenched." In a Facebook post that day, Jang pointed out, "Kim's 100 days showed clear limits amid efforts for change," and criticized that despite flashy slogans like the basic income system, there was no concrete policy on how to implement any of them.

He added, "'People Power Party = Kim Jong-in.' So naturally, people say there are no talents," and claimed, "Kim's autocratic leadership is becoming more entrenched over time. Forcing through the revision of the party platform and the new party name hastily at the 100-day mark of the Emergency Response Committee Chairman was no different from the past one-man rule and authoritarian party style."

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