Kim Jong-in: "No Suitable Candidate for Busan Mayor... No Hope Seen in Ahn Cheol-soo"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, lamented that "there is no suitable candidate" regarding next year's Busan mayoral by-election candidates. Regarding Ahn Cheol-soo, the leader of the People Party, he dismissed recruitment rumors, saying, "If there was someone who showed hope, I would have joined hands."

Chairman Kim made these remarks during a meeting with local journalists after attending the 41st anniversary ceremony of the Busan-Masan Democracy Movement held at Busan National University on the 16th. He said, "There is no figure who envisions the future of Busan's development with a grand plan."

He added, "It feels like some lawmakers who have served three to four terms are now thinking of trying to become mayor because it's no longer fun. That should not happen," and said, "Among the figures currently being mentioned, I do not see the candidate I have in mind."

However, Chairman Kim stated, "If only the candidate is well chosen, we can guarantee victory in the by-elections for the Seoul mayor or Busan mayor," and said, "the future primary election rules to be established will actively reflect the public opinion of citizens."

Regarding the ongoing rumors within the party about recruiting Leader Ahn, he dismissed them, saying, "If there was someone who showed hope, I would have personally gone to meet and join hands."

On the other hand, he gave a somewhat positive evaluation of Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju, who has officially declared his presidential bid, saying, "It can become what he hopes for depending on how the general public and party members judge him."

After visiting the Busan Jang Gi-ryeo Memorial Center, he told reporters, "Governor Won participated in the party primary in 2007 with a presidential dream but did not receive much support. Now, more than ten years later, he is dreaming of the presidency again and will present his vision for how to lead the country in his own way, so it can become what he hopes for."

Regarding the government's response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), he harshly criticized it, saying, "There is no plan." He said, "The government has no plan on whether the COVID-19 situation will continue until the end of this year or into next year," and pointed out, "It seems they thought the COVID-19 situation would completely end by the end of September."

He continued, "The unemployment issue among those working in the tourism industry is difficult," urging the government to prepare livelihood support measures for them. Regarding the recently provided second disaster relief fund, he criticized, "It seems that an accurate diagnosis of how much the normal industries are affected by COVID-19 has not been made, so specific support plans have not been well prepared."

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