Lee Jun-seok's 'Voluntary Resignation' Scatters Yoon's Campaign Headquarters

Lee, Continually Raising Issues with 'Yunhaekgwan', Calls for Disbandment-Level Reorganization of the Campaign Committee
Kim Jong-in Draws the Line on Full-Scale Reorganization

Kim Jong-in, the General Election Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is attending the Central Election Countermeasures Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 23rd, closing his eyes and deep in thought during the meeting. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Bomryeong Geum, Juni Park] Despite the unprecedented situation of the leader of the main opposition party resigning from the election campaign committee position continuing for several days, there is no sign of a figure or strength within the People Power Party to manage this situation. Kim Jong-in, the general election campaign committee chairman who took over the campaign committee after Lee Jun-seok stepped down, has issued only 'warnings' regarding internal conflicts and is not seeking major changes. Meanwhile, Lee continues to escalate criticism toward the campaign committee, intensifying the conflict. Throughout this process, presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol's presence has not been highlighted.

On the 23rd, Kim, the general election campaign committee chairman, stated at the central campaign committee meeting, "Some voices call for a reorganization of the campaign committee, but at this point, I do not intend to cause such confusion again," adding, "The comprehensive situation headquarters will take the lead in properly gathering all opinions." This reflects the recognition that Lee's advocated 'dissolution of the campaign committee' is not a solution to resolve the current conflict. Instead, they plan to respond by maintaining the current system.

Along with system maintenance, Kim did not forget to issue a warning internally. He said, "Those responsible for their functions within the campaign committee should make every effort to perform their roles to the fullest, but if they attempt to exceed their functions, that itself becomes a problem. I once again urge everyone to be very cautious about this."

The comprehensive situation headquarters includes Im Tae-hee, the general situation headquarters chief, and Geum Tae-seop, the head of strategic planning, who are known as Kim's 'special task force.' Im explained on the same day, "The most important thing is that through the campaign committee led by General Chairman Kim, we have agreed to report on the overall direction regarding the situation and political climate."

However, Lee appeared on the radio that day to reiterate the background of his resignation from the campaign committee and maintained a critical voice regarding the series of conflicts. He said, "If my authority to make final decisions is denied, then it is right for me to resign." When mentioning the conflict with former public relations director Cho Su-jin, he directly stated, "Such a campaign committee cannot function."

Lee has been continuously pointing out the problem of 'Yunhaekgwan' (key figures in Yoon Seok-yeol's camp) and emphasizing that a major reorganization of the campaign committee is necessary. Regarding the campaign committee situation, he said, "If the candidate had properly given full authority to General Chairman Kim, it would have been dissolved immediately." This is a direct criticism that Kim currently does not have 'full authority.'

The verbal exchange with Assemblyman Jang Je-won, who has been identified by Lee as a 'Yunhaekgwan' party, also continued. Lee pointed out, "(Assemblyman Jang) lists all the overall contents of the campaign committee and criticizes them, including things I don't even know," adding, "He either has very good intelligence or is declaring himself a key figure." In response, Assemblyman Jang stated, "I will not respond. I will endure and endure again." He told reporters, "The campaign committee head (General Chairman Kim) made that diagnosis, didn't he? Then it would be better to dispel the controversy and follow the diagnosis." This is interpreted as agreeing with a partial reorganization approach rather than a 'dissolution of the campaign committee' to quell many controversies, including the Yunhaekgwan issue.

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