Eonju Lee: "Yoon Relies on Kim Jong-in Whenever Times Are Tough... Kim's Overt Support Won't Be Much Help"

"Hong Jun-pyo is a style that borrows wisdom but is not swayed... clear self-centeredness"

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol (left) and People Power Party lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo (right), candidates in the People Power Party presidential primary.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Lee Eonju, former lawmaker and co-chairman of Hong Junpyo's campaign election countermeasures committee, commented on former emergency committee chairman Kim Jongin's statement that "next year's presidential election will be a competition between Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, and Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party candidate," saying, "His blatant support won't be of much help."

On the 1st, Lee appeared on MBC Radio's 'Pyo Changwon's News Highkick' and responded to the host's question, "Do you think former chairman Kim showed a lot of support for candidate Yoon Seok-youl?" by saying, "In a way, he is a senior figure, but he clearly took one side during the primary phase."

He added, "Someone like former chairman Kim can provide strategic advice, which is helpful," but clarified, "However, bringing in support from factions is a separate matter."

He continued, "When it comes to the presidential primary, how much the candidate has a center and does not get swayed, and whether they maintain their own core without being influenced by others, is a very important criterion for voters."

He then asserted, "Candidate Hong Junpyo borrows the wisdom of seniors like former chairman Kim but is not swayed and has a clear self-center," while "Candidate Yoon Seok-youl tends to rely on Chairman Kim Jongin whenever he faces difficulties."

Earlier, on the morning of the 29th of last month, former chairman Kim Jongin met with reporters at the funeral hall of Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where former President Roh Tae-woo's wake was held, and stated, "I think next year's presidential election will be a competition between Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, and Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party candidate."

In response, after greeting staff members of the People Power Party's secretariat that day, Hong expressed displeasure, saying, "Another master has appeared," and "That must be what he wishes for." He added, "I don't care what he says about his opinions. Yeongnam party members do not like Chairman Kim Jongin," and "His influence on the party's primary is almost none."

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