Kim Jong-in Predicts 'Yoon Seok-yeol VS Lee Jae-myung'... Hong Joon-pyo Sarcastically Says "A Soothsayer Has Appeared"

Yoo Seung-min "If Kim is worried about the party, it is right to maintain neutrality"

Hong Joon-pyo, member of the People Power Party, and Kim Jong-in, former emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party (from left). / Photo by National Assembly Press Corps, Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Former People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in said, "Next year's presidential election will be a competition between candidate Lee Jae-myung and candidate Yoon Seok-youl," which prompted lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo to sarcastically remark, "Another master has appeared."

Earlier, on the 29th, after paying respects at the funeral hall of the late former President Roh Tae-woo at Seoul National University Hospital, Kim told reporters that when asked about the results of the People Power Party's presidential primary on the 5th of next month.

In response to Hong emphasizing that "Candidate Yoon has low support among the youth," Kim said, "That's something coming from Hong's side," adding, "We need to see the final conclusion; by itself, it doesn't hold much meaning."

Regarding this, on the same day, after greeting People Power Party office staff at the National Assembly, Hong, upon hearing Kim's remarks, criticized, saying, "Another master has appeared," and added, "That must be what he wishes for."

He further emphasized, "I have no interest in whatever opinions he (Kim) expresses. Yeongnam party members do not like Chairman Kim Jong-in," and stressed, "It will have almost no impact on the party's primary."

The 'bad blood' between former Chairman Kim and lawmaker Hong has been ongoing. During his tenure as the People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman, Kim opposed Hong's reinstatement. Hong also once said, "When I was a prosecutor in April 1993 during the Donghwa Bank slush fund case, I obtained a confession of bribery from former Economic Secretary Kim Jong-in in just 20 minutes."

Meanwhile, former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, a candidate in the People Power Party presidential primary, also pointed out, "As a former emergency committee chairman, it is very inappropriate to make such remarks with the election just around the corner," and added, "If you are concerned about the party, I think it is right to maintain strict neutrality."

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