Kim Jong-in "New Figures More Suitable Than Incumbents for Next Year's Seoul and Busan Mayoral Candidates"

Kim Jong-in Lectures at 'Mapo Forum' Gathering of Current and Former Lawmakers
"I Don't Think Kim Moo-sung Has Ambition for Busan Mayor"
"A Conservative Presidential Contender Group Will Form with Won Hee-ryong, Yoo Seung-min, Oh Se-hoon, and Others"

Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, attended an invited lecture at the "Forum for a Better World (Mapo Forum)" located in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 8th, and greeted former lawmaker Kim Moo-sung. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, expressed the view that new figures are more suitable than incumbent lawmakers as candidates for the Seoul and Busan mayoral elections next April.

On the 8th, right after giving a lecture at the "Towards a Better World" Forum (Mapo Forum) held in Mapo-gu, Seoul, Kim told reporters, "We still do not know who the mayoral candidates will be," but added this opinion.

He said, "If an incumbent lawmaker runs, a new election for the National Assembly must be held," and "It is most appropriate for new figures to emerge." However, regarding the speculation that former lawmaker Kim Moo-sung might be drafted as the Busan mayoral candidate, he said, "Would he want to run? I don't think he has such ambition," and added, "It is hard to accept that claim."

The People Power Party plans to announce a preparatory committee for the primary election in preparation for next year's by-elections on Monday. Regarding the candidate selection method, Kim explained, "For example, to become the Seoul mayoral candidate, the person who wants to run would go around each district, discuss with people there, and if citizens exercise their right to select, the person who wins there becomes the candidate," adding, "The 'Mr. Trot' method only borrows the form."

About the next presidential candidates, he said, "Party members interested in the presidency will appear one after another," and "Governor Won Hee-ryong of Jeju, former lawmakers Yoo Seung-min and Oh Se-hoon, among others, will express their presidential ambitions in this gathering, and naturally, a presidential atmosphere will be formed." Regarding the criticism that the so-called presidential hopefuls' approval ratings are not very high, he emphasized, "The approval ratings currently coming out are not very meaningful," and "Based on past election experience, the person with high initial approval ratings does not necessarily become president."

When asked about Ahn Cheol-soo, the leader of the People’s Party, he drew a line by saying, "Please do not keep asking about people who are not affiliated with our party."

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