Kim Jong-in "Yoon Seok-yeol to Express Intentions Mid-Month... Lee Jae-myung, a Person Skilled in Transformation"

No Need to Join a Party
Election Costs Are Not a Big Issue

The Public's Level Has Risen
Old Mindsets Can't Win Elections Anymore

Former Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Former People Power Party emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in predicted on the 2nd that Yoon Seok-yeol, the former Prosecutor General who is gaining high approval ratings as an opposition presidential candidate, will make a 'political decision' around mid-month. Regarding Lee Jae-myung, the Gyeonggi Province governor and ruling party presidential candidate, he described him as a "versatile person" and said, "We should not think of Governor Lee so simply."

Former emergency committee chairman Kim appeared on KBS that day and said, "He (former Prosecutor General Yoon) must be thinking about many things. He will need time to organize his surroundings," adding, "After that, if he gains confidence, I expect he will express his intention around mid-May."

Regarding whether former Prosecutor General Yoon will join existing parties such as the People Power Party or the People Party to run in the presidential election or create a third political ground, Kim said, "If he thinks that Korean politics needs a fundamental change, he will probably make a different choice," adding, "If not, and he chooses the usual, somewhat complacent approach pursued by typical politicians, there is a possibility he might choose one of the existing parties."

Kim also said there is no need to necessarily join a party. He explained, "Election expenses are later reimbursed by the government, so like when the late Park Won-soon ran for Seoul mayor, funds can be secured by issuing bonds and then returned after the election, so money should not be considered the most important issue."

When asked about the possibility that former Prosecutor General Yoon might not run or might drop out midway, he replied, "I don't know." Kim said, "It is a situation only he can decide," and added, "From what I hear, he seems to have a strong interest in the presidency."

Regarding Governor Lee Jae-myung, who is leading in ruling party presidential approval ratings, Kim described him as a "versatile person." He said, "Recently, such voices have been less frequent, but since he was someone who raised issues like basic income to increase interest, I see him as a person capable of transformation," adding, "We should not think of Governor Lee so simply."

On the meaning of transformation, Kim viewed it as a politician's ability to flexibly represent the changing public sentiment according to the times. He said, "Politicians themselves must transform," adding, "With old-fashioned thinking, in my view, you absolutely cannot win elections." He continued, "As seen in the by-elections, the public's level is very high now," and added, "Negative campaigning does not work."

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