[Q&A] Yoon Seok-yeol: "I will change to a practical campaign committee"... Denies rumors of resigning lawmakers' return

Q&A with Reporters for About 30 Minutes
Resigning Lawmakers: "Impossible to Influence the Campaign Committee"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is holding a press conference related to the campaign headquarters at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 5th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, who has been put on the defensive due to declining approval ratings and internal party conflicts, announced plans to reorganize the election campaign committee. During the Q&A session with reporters following the announcement, he clearly stated that key figures identified as internal problems within the campaign committee would not be reinstated, emphasizing the creation of a "slimmed-down" campaign committee.

On the 5th, Yoon held a press conference at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, and responded to reporters' questions accordingly. He explained the reason for the reorganization, saying, "The campaign committee organization was too large, so to make it more agile and practical, and to allow the younger generation to take a more leading role in the campaign, it was decided that simplifying the decision-making structure and making it more practical was the right approach."

Regarding not assigning a position within the campaign committee to Kim Jong-in, the People Power Party's overall campaign chairman, Yoon avoided a direct answer, saying, "I called him this morning, expressed my gratitude, and asked for his continued advice." On the conflict with Lee Jun-seok, the party leader, he gave a somewhat general response, stating, "We both received the same mandate from the people and party members," and "I believe Lee will fulfill his role as party leader well for the presidential election."

Regarding key figures within the campaign committee who stepped down amid the so-called 'Yoon core group' (Yoon Seok-yeol's key associates) controversy, Yoon said, "Once they step down from official positions, it becomes difficult for them to engage in activities that might raise public concern," adding, "They would have to work independently after stepping down, making it practically impossible to influence the campaign committee."

▼ Below is the full Q&A transcript

Q. You said players don’t look at the scoreboard, but it seems unavoidable now. Some party lawmakers think that Lee Jun-seok, the People Power Party leader, influenced the sharp drop in approval ratings. What is your view?

▲ Good results are achieved through everyone's efforts and should be celebrated together, but when results are poor, the responsibility lies solely with me as the candidate.

Q. The campaign committee reform is described as 'Yoon Seok-yeol standing alone.' Can this be interpreted as a break with Kim Jong-in, the overall campaign chairman? Was there a particular trigger?

▲ Some may see it as a break, but fundamentally, the campaign committee was too large. To make it more agile and practical, and to allow the 2030 generation to participate more proactively, I often listened to the stories of young aides and other young people working in the camp who were not officially selected as aides, and was impressed. To enable the younger generation to take a leading role in the campaign, it was decided that simplifying the decision-making structure and making it more practical was the right approach.

Q. Did you speak with Chairman Kim yesterday or today? Was his remark about the candidate stepping back taken into consideration?

▲ I met him the day before yesterday and called him again this morning to express my thanks and ask for his continued advice. I do not think Chairman Kim's remark about stepping back was meant negatively. No matter how experienced a senior politician is, when running for president, they should accept and follow objective advice from the campaign rather than speaking their mind freely. I do not think his comment was intended to belittle the candidate.

Q. The conflict with Lee Jun-seok, a key axis of the recent disputes, and the conflict with Chairman Kim seem to be set aside. Do you plan to reach out to Lee again or request cooperation?

▲ Both Lee and I were elected by the people and party members to bring about regime change. So, we both received the same mandate from the people and party members. I expect Lee to fulfill his role as party leader well for the presidential election.

Q. Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, has proposed a Daejang-dong debate and insists on daily debates. Are you willing to accept?

▲ I believe that three official debates are insufficient to verify the various allegations related to the opponent's Daejang-dong issue, personal background, policies, decisions as a public figure, and campaign pledges. Therefore, I have instructed our campaign staff to begin discussions on debates beyond the official ones to ensure effective debates.

Q. How do you evaluate the recent decline in your approval ratings and the rise in Ahn Cheol-soo, the People's Party candidate? Do you plan to pursue unification with Ahn?

▲ All choices are made by the people, so it is inappropriate for politicians to evaluate this. As I have always said, discussions about unification during the campaign are not appropriate politically.

Q. What will happen to the New Era Preparation Committee, which was directly under the candidate? How do you plan to communicate with Chairman Kim Han-gil?

▲ Chairman Kim Han-gil has resigned from his position. The New Era Preparation Committee is an organization for those who desire regime change but find it difficult to join the People Power Party. I believe the committee will continue to work alongside us toward regime change.

Q. Do you think Lee Jun-seok needs to participate in the campaign committee to capture the 2030 generation?

▲ The campaign headquarters will operate as a headquarters structure rather than a committee structure. Rather than holding a position in the campaign headquarters, as party leader, Lee can serve as a standing chairman of a committee. Existing headquarters will be reduced under the party and incorporated under the campaign headquarters chief. As party leader, he can fulfill his role without necessarily holding a position in the central campaign headquarters.

Q. There are concerns that lawmakers Kwon Seong-dong and Yoon Han-hong, who stepped down amid the 'Yoon core group' controversy, might still exert significant influence without official positions. What do you think?

▲ They expressed their intention to step down some time ago to avoid burdening me. Even if they step down from the campaign committee, they will work hard for regime change and my election. Once they leave official positions, it becomes difficult for them to engage in activities that might raise public concern. They would have to work independently, making it practically impossible to influence the campaign committee.

Q. How will the campaign committee be organized? Specifically, as it is reduced under the party, how will the organization under Headquarters Chief Kwon Young-se be structured?

▲ The campaign committee had a structure including overall campaign chairman, standing chairman, co-chairmen, and vice-chairmen, with various campaign headquarters as executive bodies. However, the committees and subordinate headquarters will be dissolved, and the campaign will be reorganized around the campaign headquarters to be slim and responsive. The decision-making committees will be automatically disbanded, and most headquarters will be reduced under the party and incorporated under the campaign headquarters. The policy headquarters will likely remain separately due to its large scale and responsibility for vision and pledge announcements, but it will operate in a somewhat reduced form.

Q. The floor leadership resigned. Do you plan to ask Kim Ki-hyun, the floor leader, to return? Is it appropriate for Im Tae-hee, the overall situation headquarters chief, to handle policy?

▲ The presidential election is near, and since the floor leader is an elected position, although he has expressed his intention to resign, I hope the election is postponed until after the presidential election. Regarding Im Tae-hee's role, I have discussed it with him and will inform you soon about how he will proceed.

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