Kim Jong-in: "Yoon and Choi, Only Joining People Power Party or Unification"

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party (right), and Kim Jong-in, former emergency committee chairman, are smiling as they get into an elevator after a dinner meeting at a hotel restaurant in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 29th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Former People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in predicted that the People Power Party will be able to fully serve as a platform to unite the entire opposition in next year’s presidential election. Therefore, he foresaw that presidential candidates outside the party, such as former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol and former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, joining the People Power Party or unifying candidates in the final stages of the election could be viable alternatives.

On the 9th, Kim visited the funeral hall at Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, set up for the late retired Navy Colonel Choi Young-seop. After paying his respects, he told reporters in response to the question, “Do you see the People Power Party as a platform that can unite the entire opposition?” that “The People Power Party won a landslide victory as candidate number 2 in the recent Seoul mayoral by-election,” adding, “I believe the People Power Party will achieve its intended goals as it continues to prepare for the presidential election.” This effectively emphasized the necessity for presidential candidates to join the People Power Party.

He further stated that if candidates outside the party do not join the People Power Party, there would be no option other than candidate unification. Regarding his earlier mention of “November opposition unification” in an interview with a media outlet, he explained, “(Opposition presidential candidates) should join the People Power Party; otherwise, I see no other way.”

He continued, “For example, if those outside the party enter early and participate in the primaries together, there would be no need for unification. But if those outside maintain their support ratings and do not join to compete in the primaries, what other options would there be at that point?” He added, “Then, like in the recent Seoul mayoral by-election, the only option would be candidate unification.”

When asked about the nuance that People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok has been continuously asking him to serve as the presidential campaign committee chairman, Kim replied, “Since the presidential candidate has not yet been decided, I cannot talk about the campaign chairman,” but he left the possibility open by saying, “The campaign chairman is usually chosen by the presidential candidate once the candidate is decided.”

Meanwhile, Kim revealed that he met former Chairman Choi for the first time that day. Regarding his reason for attending the condolence visit, he said, “There was a repatriation ceremony for soldiers who died in the Korean War on June 25 last year, and I briefly met the deceased then,” adding, “I came today because he was someone who loyally served the country and has passed away.”

Regarding presidential candidates outside the party, former Prosecutor General Yoon and former Chairman Choi, he said, “I currently have no plans to meet them.”

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