"Reclusive Yoo Seung-min, Following Hong Joon-pyo, Will He Join Yoon Seok-yeol's 'One Team'?"

Yeonpyeongdo Memorial Ceremony and Tribute to Major Killed in Fighter Jet Accident
Sharp Reaction in Mr. Kim's Recording: "Not Worth Mentioning"
"Will Eventually Join Out of Party Affection" Also Expressed

Yoo Seung-min, former People Power Party presidential primary candidate Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] With Assemblyman Hong Joon-pyo's sudden joining of the People Power Party's Central Election Countermeasures Headquarters, attention is focused on the whereabouts of former Assemblyman Yoo Seung-min, the last puzzle piece of the 'One Team.'

According to political circles on the 30th, after the primary election ended, Yoo's only official activities were attending the 11th anniversary memorial ceremony for the Yeonpyeong Island shelling, visiting a concert for Hong Won-gi, a boy with progeria, and paying respects to Major Shim Jung-min, who died in an Air Force F-5E fighter jet crash. Yoo has shown a 'calm and steady' demeanor, contrasting with Assemblyman Hong, who gained much support from young people during the primary and actively communicated through a site called 'Youth's Dream,' and former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong, who is serving as the policy chief of the election headquarters.

Since Yoo has rarely appeared, rumors of his 'retirement from politics' have circulated. In political circles, it is known that Yoo spent the end of last month meeting and thanking those who supported him during the presidential primary process.

Yoo's joining of the election headquarters has become even more uncertain due to the '7-hour phone call transcript' involving Yoon Seok-youl's spouse, Kim Gun-hee. In the call, Kim said, "Yoo Seung-min also did a gut (shamanistic ritual)," to which Yoo responded on his Facebook on the 23rd, stating, "Although it is not even worth mentioning, I clearly clarify the facts," expressing discomfort. Yoo explained, "I firmly declare that all parts Kim mentioned about me in the transcript are false fabrications."

On the evening of October 31 last year, before the start of the 10th joint debate for the People Power Party presidential primary candidates held at the KBS studio in Yeouido, Seoul, they are seen conversing. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Yoo's joining is not only symbolically important as part of the 'One Team' but also valuable for actual policy advice. Both ruling and opposition candidates have already adopted Yoo's campaign pledges from the primary. Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, proposed creating one million social service jobs, which Yoo advocated, and Yoon also announced plans to train one million digital talents. Professor Seo Seong-gyo of Konkuk University's Graduate School of Public Administration appeared on YTN and said, "If former candidate Yoo joins the team, it could gain considerable momentum," adding, "If Yoo's reformist political tendencies are reflected in pledges or policies, the People Power Party's One Team could smoothly proceed to unify with Ahn Cheol-soo of the People’s Party."

The election headquarters is reportedly persuading Yoo to join through contacts inside and outside the party. It seems no definite answer has been received yet. Some speculate that Yoo might play a catalytic role, citing Yoo Ui-dong's recent election as the policy committee chairman following Kim Do-eup's resignation. Former Assemblyman Oh Shin-hwan, who has a close relationship with Yoo, is also active in the election headquarters. A second-term People Power Party lawmaker said, "Given his deep affection for the party, I think he will ultimately contribute to regime change."

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