Yoon Seok-yeol Abruptly Disbands Previous Campaign Committee, "I Will Start Again with a Different Approach" (Comprehensive)

Simplifying the Presidential Campaign Committee Organization and Fully Deploying Field Workers
Breaking Ties with Kim Jong-in, Seeking Coexistence with Lee Jun-seok
Repeated Apology for Family-Related Issues... "Principles and Standards Apply to Me and My Family as Well"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Naju-seok, Lee Hyun-joo, Geum Bo-ryeong, Park Jun-yi] Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, announced on the 5th that he would abruptly disband the election campaign committee and reorganize it into a more practical, task-oriented campaign team. Yoon said he would part ways with Kim Jong-in, the general campaign chairman, apologized for family-related issues, and stated, "I will start anew with a different approach from what has been done so far."

At a press conference held at the People Power Party headquarters on the same day, Yoon said, "Basically, the campaign organization was too large, so I decided it was right to make it more agile and practical, and to allow the 2030 generation to participate more proactively."

The core of this campaign reorganization plan is to simplify the organization and place practical workers at the forefront. The ‘Three Kims (Kim Jong-in, Kim Byung-joon, Kim Han-gil) system’ will be replaced. Assemblyman Kwon Young-se will take charge as the head of the election campaign headquarters. Yoon explained, "We disbanded the committees and subordinate headquarters and changed to a system centered on the election campaign headquarters that can respond quickly," adding, "I think the policy headquarters will remain separately." The personnel announcement is planned to be made as early as tomorrow.

Yoon also said that the opinions of the 2030 generation would be actively reflected. He said, "We will continue to maintain (youth) aides in the policy headquarters, and if other headquarters are integrated into the election campaign headquarters, we will give youth aides a more active role and have them participate."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding Chairman Kim, Yoon said, "As of today, I will disband the campaign committee," adding, "I thanked Chairman Kim for his many pieces of advice and asked him to continue advising me in the future." He formalized the split while showing a degree of courtesy.

He explained, "Some may see this as a breakup with Chairman Kim, but basically, the campaign organization was too large, so to make it agile and practical and to allow the 2030 generation to participate proactively, it was decided that simplifying the decision-making structure and making it more practical was the right choice."

Yoon said, "I met Chairman Kim the day before yesterday and called him this morning to express my gratitude and ask for continued advice," adding, "I don't think Chairman Kim's remark about 'acting' had a bad meaning." He explained, "No matter how senior a politician is, rather than speaking their mind bluntly, when challenging a presidential election, one should accept and follow objective advice from within the camp," and added, "I don't think it was a remark that belittled the candidate." He clarified that he had no dissatisfaction with Chairman Kim's ‘acting’ remark.

Regarding Representative Lee, Yoon said, "Both Representative Lee and I were elected by the people and party members to bring about a regime change," and added, "I expect Representative Lee to fulfill his role well as party leader for the presidential election."

Regarding Representative Lee's joining the election campaign headquarters, Yoon said, "We plan to incorporate everything under the campaign headquarters chief," and added, "As party leader, he can fulfill his role; it is not necessary to have an official position in the central campaign headquarters to conduct election activities."

Regarding calls within the party for Representative Lee's resignation, Yoon said, "The issue of Representative Lee's position is beyond my jurisdiction," and added, "I believe many party members and lawmakers expect Representative Lee to take a more active role in the election campaign, and I think he will do so."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In addition, Yoon apologized for family-related issues and confirmed that he would maintain a strict stance.

He said, "I apologize to the people for causing concern due to family-related issues. I will accept the criticism and reprimands from the people with humility," and added, "The principles and standards I have consistently held will be applied equally to myself, my family, and those around me."

When asked, "When will your spouse officially appear?" Yoon explained, "Since the Cho Kuk incident, my wife and her family have been under intensive investigation for about two years, and she is mentally and physically exhausted," adding, "In my view, she is in a condition that somewhat requires rest."

Yoon continued, "From my perspective, there is no criminal matter to worry about, but as a woman, she has been under continuous stress from this, so she is trying to recover well. Rather than participating in political activities during the election campaign, she is thinking about quietly engaging in volunteer work," he said.

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