"Change Everything Except the Candidate" Kim Jong-in's Bold Move: Will the Conflict Between Yoon Seok-yeol and Lee Jun-seok End?

Yoon Seok-yeol "Entirely the candidate's fault, and my shortcomings"
"Not much time left until the election, so it won't take long"
Kim Jong-in "If dragged out, election campaign will be disrupted"
"Yoon Seok-yeol to recover approval ratings by the end of this month"
Lee Jun-seok rejects 'resignation demand' saying "You don't know Lee Jun-seok trained by Sohn Hak-kyu"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, suddenly canceled his subsequent schedule on the morning of the 3rd and is returning to the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] On the 3rd, the People Power Party launched a full-scale overhaul regarding Yoon Seok-yeol candidate's approval ratings. All members except for Kim Jong-in, the overall election committee chairman, expressed their intention to resign from party positions. Some interpret this as a decisive move by Chairman Kim. However, Representative Lee Jun-seok repeatedly emphasized that he has no intention to resign.

Earlier, Representative Lee publicly criticized the current election committee (election headquarters) as problematic, and Candidate Yoon had denied any plans for reorganization, leading to disputes over the operation of the election headquarters. In this unprecedented situation where all members resigned from party positions initiated by Chairman Kim, Candidate Yoon suspended all public schedules and returned to the party headquarters on the same day.

◆ People Power Party: "Everyone except the candidate will be changed... We will unite all efforts to bring about a regime change"

On the day, People Power Party members declared a white-clad service (serving without seeking personal gain) under the policy of "changing everyone except presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol." After the members' meeting, floor spokesperson Jeon Ju-hye said, "All People Power Party members will now resign from all party positions and serve solely for regime change," adding, "Each person will run with the determination to defend their post as if it were a frontline."

Spokesperson Jeon continued, "To bring about change and unity, we will vigorously wave the flag of regime change from now on," and "We agreed on the policy of 'changing everyone except the candidate' so that the candidate can have full authority to reorganize and lead the party and election headquarters with all efforts focused on regime change through Candidate Yoon."

On the same day, Floor Leader Kim Ki-hyun and Policy Committee Chairman Kim Do-eup resigned from all party and central election headquarters positions, followed by Standing Election Committee Chairman Kim Byung-joon and Co-Chair Lee Soo-jung, who also announced their resignations. Kim Han-gil, chairman of the New Era Preparation Committee, a candidate-affiliated organization, and Shin Ji-ye, vice-chair, also resigned.

Kim Jong-in, the General Election Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is attending an emergency party members' meeting held at the National Assembly on the 3rd, deeply lost in thought with a serious expression. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

◆ Kim Jong-in: "The current situation is urgent... If no one triggers the start, time will be wasted"

Regarding the reorganization of the election headquarters, Chairman Kim Jong-in appeared on TV Chosun on the day and said, "I plan to finish it within the next couple of days in consultation with Candidate Yoon Seok-yeol," adding, "We intend to create a general headquarters to directly control all matters related to the candidate." He added, "If this drags on, the election campaign itself will be disrupted."

Regarding the existing six general headquarters, he said, "There are some necessary heads and some unnecessary ones, so I think they can be changed depending on the situation." About the sudden announcement of the election headquarters reorganization without consulting the candidate, he said, "I announced it without contacting the candidate, so the candidate seemed quite taken aback."

He continued, "The situation is urgent, so if no one triggers the start, time will be wasted, so I made a unilateral announcement." He added, "I met directly with Candidate Yoon to explain why it had to be done this way. The candidate said he felt a bit hurt, but since this is for the candidate's benefit, I think they will understand each other," and "I believe they will think it is right to handle it coldly like this."

Regarding Candidate Yoon's future approval ratings, he said, "There is still over 50% public opinion that regime change is necessary," and predicted, "If the election campaign is properly conducted in January, lost support can be recovered by the end of January."

On the issue of Representative Lee's return to the election headquarters, he said, "Whether he returns or not is not important," and added, "I think Representative Lee is also planning to make maximum efforts for Candidate Yoon's victory."

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, is listening to questions from reporters after concluding a policy discussion forum on seeking regional balanced development held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 28th of last month. [Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Lee Jun-seok: "Did the Secretary-General (Representative Kwon Seong-dong) resign?" he retorted... Rejects resignation rumors

Meanwhile, Representative Lee stated at the members' meeting that he has no intention of resigning despite calls for his resignation. In the evening at the National Assembly, he told reporters about the so-called 'Lee Jun-seok responsibility theory,' "I have not received detailed information but have gathered all opinions," adding, "I will speak if there is anything to say after assessing the situation."

Regarding the resolution for all members to resign from party positions at the meeting, he said, "I am not sure if that actually happened," and retorted, "Did the Secretary-General (Representative Kwon Seong-dong) resign?" Earlier, he drew a line against demands for his resignation raised by some members at the meeting, saying, "These people do not know Lee Jun-seok, who was trained by Sohn Hak-kyu."

Earlier that day, after Chairman Kim Jong-in announced the full overhaul of the election headquarters, Representative Lee voluntarily held a press conference, saying, "I do not know what form the election headquarters will ultimately take," and "I will refrain from evaluation or expressing opinions." When asked if he would help if Candidate Yoon directly asked for help, he emphasized, "I think we should not have conversations based on hypothetical situations."

Regarding the possible resignation of Supreme Council members Cho Soo-jin and Kim Jae-won, with whom he had conflicts, he said, "If the two Supreme Council members choose to sacrifice for the greater good, I will immediately prepare replacement members," and added, "We might even appoint Candidate Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party as a Supreme Council member."

In response, Shin Na-ri, deputy spokesperson of the People's Party election headquarters, issued a statement criticizing, "Lee seems to have lost his sense of judgment as he is cornered," and "While it is understandable that he is confused due to internal strife in the People Power Party, he has forgotten basic courtesy toward competing candidates."

Representative Lee and Candidate Yoon have had conflicts over the operation of the election headquarters. On the 30th of last month, in an interview with TBS Radio's 'Shin Jang-sik's Shin Jang Open,' Lee said about the recent trend in Candidate Yoon's approval ratings, "Except for those in their 60s, everyone is now surrounded," and argued, "The election headquarters should not be trimmed selectively but completely dismantled." He also strongly criticized the election headquarters, saying, "The mammoth (rapid election headquarters) is the problem. It must be controlled. It just consumes a lot but does nothing properly." He also pointed out that youth support is drifting away, citing recent polls.

Regarding this, Candidate Yoon visited Daegu on the 29th of last month and emphasized, "There is no reorganization of the election headquarters, and the overall election committee chairman thinks the same," adding, "However, the election headquarters needs continuous changes and improvements to operate more efficiently until the election day."

Meanwhile, on the night of the 3rd, Candidate Yoon met with reporters at the Yeouido party headquarters and said, "It is entirely the candidate's fault and my shortcomings that many people are worried about the election." He continued, "I sincerely apologize to the public for that," and added, "Including our party members and interested parties, many hope for a major overhaul and change in the election committee, so I am deeply considering this and gathering many opinions around the year-end and New Year. Since the election is not far away, it will not take long."

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