Kim Jong-in's Full Reorganization of the Election Committee... Reconciliation or Another Conflict?

Approval Ratings Fall Consecutively, Leading to 'Head of Headquarters Resignation'
Shin Ji-ye Announces Resignation via SNS

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Naju-seok and Park Joon-yi] Kim Jong-in, the general election committee chairman leading the People Power Party's election campaign committee, has expressed his intention to completely reorganize the campaign committee. This appears to be an effort to revitalize the campaign through structural reforms, including the resignation of headquarters chiefs, following a recent stagnation in public opinion toward Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate.

On the 3rd, Kim held a Central Election Committee meeting at the National Assembly and stated, "I would like to announce that we will carry out a full-scale reorganization of our People Power Party's election committee to show the public that we are making our best efforts."

Candidate Yoon decided to halt his originally scheduled events and begin reorganizing the campaign committee. Initially, Yoon was scheduled to attend the Korea Exchange (KRX) opening ceremony, announce policy pledges to revive financial services for ordinary citizens, hold a joint meeting of the People Power Party's standing committee chairpersons and secretaries, and conduct a 'Change and Unity' party members' meeting. However, all events following the opening ceremony were canceled.

The sudden suspension of Yoon's schedule suggests that Kim's announcement of a full reorganization of the campaign committee was likely not coordinated in advance. After the opening ceremony, Yoon got into a car without answering reporters' questions and left.

On the same day, Kim made a bold move by calling for the resignation of headquarters chiefs. The resignations are expected to take place within this week. After the campaign committee meeting, Kim told reporters regarding rumors of the resignation of six headquarters chiefs, "We need to adjust the entire structure, including the resignation of headquarters chiefs, and carry out the necessary reorganization well." He also revealed that he had already encouraged the chiefs targeted for resignation to step down the day before.

Regarding the reason for deciding on the reorganization, he said, "The general public's opinion has strongly pressured the campaign committee, so I judged that we must reorganize the committee in line with public sentiment to conduct the election properly." When asked if the recent decline in approval ratings influenced the reorganization, he replied, "I think that also had some influence."

On the same day, election committee members also voiced a unified call for reform. Kim Ki-hyun, the floor leader of the People Power Party, said, "There is harsh criticism that our party lacks a sense of urgency," adding, "There is no more time. Bold reform is needed immediately, even today." Kim Do-eup, co-chairman of the election committee, said, "We must change even if it means enduring the painful shedding of our skin," and Lee Yong-ho, also a co-chairman, emphasized, "We must act with the resolve of life or death."

Meanwhile, Shin Ji-ye, the senior vice chairperson of the New Era Preparation Committee, who had been a source of controversy since joining Yoon's campaign, abruptly resigned on the same day. Shin announced her resignation via social media, stating, "Today, I resign as senior vice chairperson of the New Era Preparation Committee." She added, "I will step forward first," and "I sincerely request organizational reform for regime change as I step down."

Shin, a prominent feminist figure in Korean politics, faced internal party conflicts after her sudden endorsement of candidate Yoon. People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok and others pointed out that Shin's recruitment disrupted the presidential campaign strategy, including the generational encirclement theory centered on the 2030 demographic.

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