Kim Jong-in "Postponing the Launch of the By-election Campaign Committee... Need to Carefully Consider Personnel Composition"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The People Power Party's election countermeasures committee, established in preparation for the Seoul and Busan by-elections scheduled for April next year, was supposed to be launched on the 12th but has been postponed due to personnel composition issues.

Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, told reporters after the emergency committee meeting at the National Assembly on the morning of the 12th, "(The by-election countermeasures committee) was scheduled to be launched today, but it was postponed due to various considerations."

The People Power Party planned to form the countermeasures committee to secure victory in the by-elections and intended to approve the list at the emergency committee meeting that day. It was reported that former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Yoo Il-ho was nominated as chairman, and Kim Seon-dong, secretary-general of the People Power Party, was nominated as vice chairman.

Chairman Kim explained the reason for the postponement, saying, "I need to reconsider various aspects such as personnel composition."

Regarding North Korea sending conciliatory gestures toward South Korea while unveiling new weapons such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) at a military parade, Kim said, "(North Korea) always seems to have an attachment toward the South," adding, "We should not be swayed by North Korea's double-faced attitude."

He continued, "We are thinking about what stance to take to defend the country if North Korea is increasing its military capabilities," and criticized, "Yesterday, Kim Jong-un (State Affairs Commission Chairman) did not officially propose dialogue with South Korea, yet (the government and ruling party) welcomed it themselves, which is regrettable."

Regarding the Lime and Optimus scandals, he said, "The prosecution should conduct a thorough investigation based on principle, but the prosecution is dragging its feet and deliberately delaying the investigation," emphasizing, "When President Moon Jae-in appointed Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, he instructed him to thoroughly investigate even the living powers, but now the investigation command is not with Prosecutor General Yoon but with Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae."

He added, "Even President Moon should directly order the Prosecutor General to properly exercise his investigative authority to clarify the situation that the public doubts."

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