"How Long Will the Power Struggle Last?" Prolonged 'Yoon Campaign Committee Risk' Over Kim Jong-in... Growing Voter Fatigue

'Campaign Committee Risk' Continues for 21 Days After Candidate Selection... Concerns Raised Inside and Outside the Party
Significant Blow Despite 'Strong Leadership' Built on Prosecutor General Experience
Experts: "Conflict of Interests and Power Struggle Among Old Boys... Voter Fatigue Is Natural"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and Kim Jong-in, former emergency committee chairman, are entering a restaurant in downtown Seoul on the evening of the 24th for a dinner meeting.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Negative public opinion among citizens is growing regarding the so-called 'campaign committee risk' of Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party. As the prolonged tension with former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in continues, analysts say voter fatigue is also accumulating.

On the 25th, the People Power Party's campaign committee decided to officially activate the campaign without filling the vacant position of Kim's general campaign chairman. This came after a surprise dinner meeting between candidate Yoon and former chairman Kim the previous day failed to narrow their differences.

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, candidate Yoon said, "It is problematic for the campaign to be further delayed; we must run while saving every minute and second," and appointed six general headquarters chiefs. After the meeting, he told reporters, "I will no longer discuss matters related to Dr. Kim Jong-in," adding, "It is not very appropriate to talk about it," and refrained from further comments.

Former chairman Kim showed signs of discomfort. Regarding some media reports that Yoon's side had issued a final ultimatum, he said, "They were talking nonsense, but when I saw that news, I thought 'good.' If it ends today, that would be good." He added, "I stated my position yesterday, and since I will not back down any further, I am waiting for them to resolve it on their own," and said, "I have never said I would help from outside."

Previously, the two sides had clashed over the agenda concerning Kim Byung-joon’s appointment as permanent campaign chairman, which was approved at the Supreme Council meeting on the 22nd. Former chairman Kim reportedly demanded adjustments to Kim Byung-joon's role and position to form a 'practical campaign committee,' but Yoon's side insisted on maintaining and expanding the existing personnel, sticking to a 'mammoth campaign committee.'

The difference in opinions on the campaign committee's composition had been an issue even before former chairman Kim's full-scale involvement. On the 12th, Kim appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said, "If someone who says they want to do new politics is surrounded by past politicians, one cannot help but worry that it will resemble the same form as those (past politicians)."

Kim also criticized the so-called 'mammoth campaign committee' raised by some, saying, "It is the same faces that ordinary people are tired of seeing," and "It cannot evoke any excitement (among the public)." This led to analysis that former chairman Kim was effectively urging candidate Yoon to make bold personnel decisions.

People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 25th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Concerns have also been raised within the party. On the 24th, Im Seung-ho, spokesperson for the People Power Party, posted on his Facebook criticizing the sluggish campaign committee formation process. He said, "Just a few months ago, the fresh engine was full of vitality, but now it feels like it is dying down," and questioned, "Is the recent campaign committee formation truly inspiring party members and the public? Since the primary, hasn't our party been wasting time with tug-of-war and power struggles?"

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party who insisted on the 'Kim Jong-in system,' expressed regret. In an interview with KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs,' he said, "Former chairman Kim's demands were not many. There was just one thing. From his perspective, he probably thought, 'Can't they accept at least that?'" He added, "What Kim demanded was a campaign schedule that allows quick decision-making without many local broadcasts interfering."

He continued, "We thought it was a part we could naturally consider for the efficiency of campaign operations. However, because the candidate's will was strong, it unfortunately did not happen," and said, "Although it is an unexpected situation that former chairman Kim is not involved, if we have to form a campaign committee, we can appoint another general campaign chairman."

Voters are expressing fatigue over the prolonged conflict. Seo, a 20-something office worker who supports candidate Yoon, said, "It feels like they are just wasting time on the same issue. Honestly, it feels tiresome, and I think Yoon might be lacking decisiveness and action."

Some analysts say the campaign committee risk deals a significant blow to Yoon's image, which emphasizes strong leadership based on his experience as Prosecutor General.

Experts agree with this analysis, saying the longer the risk continues, the more negative impact it will have on candidate Yoon. Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon explained, "The primary ended a while ago, but they still haven't fully formed the campaign committee. If they are going through labor pains to give birth to a 'precious child,' the public's expectations would be high. But they are creating an 'old boy' league, and the delay is due to conflicts of interest and power struggles among the old boys. Voters cannot help but feel fatigued."

Lee also diagnosed that candidate Yoon needs to recruit former chairman Kim despite the campaign committee risk. He said, "As seen in the campaign committee formation process, Yoon lacks leadership, political skills, and party control. Someone needs to do it on his behalf," and added, "Former chairman Kim seems to want to fill the committee with young, fresh, and capable people, just as former President Park Geun-hye brought in Lee Jun-seok. But since Yoon has placed many old boys, it seems to be unsatisfactory to him."

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