Kim Jong-in, Saying He Won't Intervene... "Should Not Be Formed Based on Personal Relationships, Must Be Cold-Headed"

Kwon Seongdong Visits Kim Jongin's Office
Kim Jongin Criticizes Yoon Until the Final Moment

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] As Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, and Kim Jong-in, former emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, enter the final stages of forming the election campaign committee, there are still differing voices between Kim and Yoon's side regarding Kim's participation in the campaign committee.

Kwon Seong-dong, who served as Yoon's chief secretary, visited Kim's office located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 19th. Meeting with reporters, Secretary General Kwon said, "I came to greet the chairman who will lead the campaign committee as the new secretary general, and I expressed that I will serve well and assist so that the campaign committee operates smoothly for Yoon's election," effectively confirming Kim's joining of the campaign committee.

When asked if Kim had given his final acceptance to join, he replied, "I think that through several deep conversations between the two of them, it is almost as if he has accepted."

However, Kim himself denied joining. When asked by reporters in front of his office whether he had given advice related to the campaign committee, he said, "I am not in a position to have such conversations with Secretary Kwon, so I did not have such discussions," and avoided answering by adding, "I am not involved, so I don't know."

Nonetheless, Kim expressed his intention to intervene by revealing his perspective on the campaign committee composition proposed by Yoon. Regarding Yoon's campaign committee formation, he pointed out, "The focus should be on how the camp can work efficiently to maximize votes, not on placing specific individuals in certain positions or such matters."

Regarding rumors of Kim Byung-joon, former emergency committee chairman of the Liberty Korea Party, joining as a standing campaign committee member, Kim expressed a critical stance, saying, "There is no need to do something that has not been done before," and "I have never heard of a standing campaign committee member." He also bluntly stated, "A person who becomes president should not think based on past connections or personal relationships. There is a need to be a bit more rational."

Earlier, it was also confirmed that Kim proposed to Yoon the creation of a Poverty Alleviation Committee, with himself as chairman. Kim explained, "Polarization has begun, and the widening wealth gap is the biggest social problem to be dealt with. I think the primary task of the next president is to see how to support those economically devastated, so I suggested that a committee be established for the candidate to seriously focus on this issue and present related policies."

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