Kim Jong-in "Kim Seon-dong Seems Decided to Run for Seoul Mayor... Successor to Be Decided Within This Week"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, said on the 14th regarding Kim Seon-dong, Secretary-General, submitting his resignation, "It seems he has made up his mind to run in the Seoul mayoral by-election," adding, "We will appoint a successor within this week."

Chairman Kim made these remarks during a meeting of the party's National Integration Committee held at the National Assembly in the afternoon, speaking with reporters.

Kim Seon-dong, who had been mentioned as a candidate for Seoul mayor, joined the by-election primary preparation committee as an ex officio member on the 12th. Following demands from both inside and outside the party to clarify his candidacy, he submitted his resignation to Chairman Kim that morning, effectively expressing his intention to run in the Seoul mayoral by-election. Chairman Kim accepted his resignation.

Chairman Kim said, "If he has decided to run for Seoul mayor, he cannot faithfully perform the role of Secretary-General, so I think that is why he submitted his resignation," adding, "We will soon appoint a successor. A decision will be made within this week."

Regarding the issue of retaking the national medical licensing exam raised the day before, he said, "I don't think it is a problem that can be solved just because the opposition party talks about it," but added, "After listening to hospital directors and realistically considering the supply and demand of medical personnel in our country, I think the government will make a reasonable judgment."

On the request for cooperation to abolish the abortion law made by Kim Jong-chul, the newly appointed leader of the Justice Party, who visited the day before, he responded, "Since it was ruled unconstitutional, there is no choice but to legally correct it," and said, "I don't know what the government’s intention was in reintroducing the abortion bill, but it will be discussed during the bill review process in the National Assembly."

Chairman Kim emphasized at the meeting, "Integration is the most important task that the People Power Party must solve."

He said, "Several presidents have talked about national integration in words, but in reality, integration has not been achieved, and that has had a fatal impact on the People Power Party," adding, "Through the launch of the Integration Committee, we must be reborn as a party that receives balanced support from the entire nation."

Chairman Kim stated, "To achieve the intended goals of the Busan mayoral and Seoul mayoral elections in April next year, the issue of national integration inevitably plays an important role," and added, "The largest proportion of Seoul’s population is people from the Honam region, and they say they want an opportunity to resolve their grievances." He continued, "If you roughly guess what that 'grievance' is, you can quickly understand," emphasizing, "We must not only talk about it but also make them recognize through actions that we have changed, so that the People Power Party can leave an impression of sincere effort."

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