Party leadership candidates checking 'Kimjang Yeondae'... "How incompetent must they be" "Weak people"

Yoon Sang-hyun "How Incompetent Must One Be... We Need Self-Reliance"
Jo Kyung-tae "Solidarity Among the Weak Is Commonplace"

Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, and Jang Je-won attended the study group 'National Sympathy' held at the National Assembly on the 7th, exchanging greetings. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] As the party convention approaches in March next year, speculation about an alliance between Kim Ki-hyun, one of the ruling party's presidential candidates, and Jang Je-won, considered a 'Yun Hae-gwan (core associate of Yoon Seok-yeol),' has surged, prompting other candidates to take measures to counter it. Kim stated, "I specialize in dating," expressing his intention to become a leader who achieves party unity through an alliance.

Yoon Sang-hyun: "How incompetent must they be to form an alliance?"

On the 22nd, Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, appeared on BBS Radio's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal' and raised his voice, saying, "What kind of alliance is this, between whom? How incompetent must they be to form an alliance?" and added, "They must do it themselves. We need to go with the theory of self-strengthening."

The so-called 'Kim-Jang alliance' is named after the first syllables of Kim and Jang's names, and there are even specific rumors that if Kim becomes party leader, Jang will become the party secretary-general. Jang has not denied this, saying, "You have to date to get married." With the party convention rules changing to '100% party members' votes,' the direction of 'Yun-sim (Yoon's heart),' which will decide the party members' votes, has become even more important. For other candidates, such alliance moves inevitably appear threatening.

Yoon drew a line, saying the 'Kim-Jang alliance' is separate from Yun-sim. He said, "I want to clarify that Jang member's such (alliance) remarks are not related to Yun-sim at all," and "In a situation where we don't even know who the candidates will be, acting so openly paradoxically means it has nothing to do with Yun-sim." It is unlikely that President Yoon, who declared 'non-intervention in party affairs,' would publicly support a specific candidate.

He added, "Would the president want the party to be divided by such open actions?" and "Through Jang member's remarks, the party is heading toward a divisive situation; would the president want that?"

Cho Kyung-tae: "Kim-Jang alliance will be over by March"

Another presidential candidate, Cho Kyung-tae, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' the same day and said, "Isn't it common for weaker candidates or those with strategic reasons to form alliances? I don't think there's a need to criticize or blame that," adding, "In Kim's case, since he struggles alone, he has to join hands with someone influential." While he did not openly criticize like Yoon, he pointed out that Kim has relatively low support among party candidates.

He continued, "The leadership and party leader election is in March next year. March is the blossoming spring month. The Kim-Jang alliance is like the kimchi-making season that has passed." This is a wordplay on 'Kim-Jang,' which sounds like the winter kimchi-making season. Although it is currently a hot topic, it suggests that it will not have much influence when the party convention is held next March. Cho said, "Three months is a very long time," and "Since a season of new flowers blooming will come, I think more hopeful and dynamic choices by party members will follow."

Kim Ki-hyun: "Dating is my specialty"

Kim expressed confidence in the 'Kim-Jang alliance.' On that day’s SBS Radio 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' he said, "In Korea, I specialize in dating," adding, "I write letters once a week, and even though I studied law, to write love letters well, you have to read some poetry collections and novels. I pretend to be knowledgeable and do that; dating is my specialty." This was a response to Jang's remark, "You have to date to get married."

He also praised Jang, saying, "Jang has outstanding capabilities. Many people haven't had the chance to see Jang's skills, so based on his outward appearance, many misunderstand him by labeling him as a 'core associate' strangely," and emphasized, "We need to give Jang opportunities to demonstrate his capabilities. While he will develop himself, if there are capable people, they should help him from the side so he can continue to do great things."

Regarding Ahn Cheol-soo's interpretation that the Kim-Jang alliance is "an admission that one cannot win alone," Kim countered, "I want to say that the idea of 'I'm good, so I'll do it alone' might work in a mini-party but is an unfamiliar culture in a large party," indirectly criticizing Ahn, who has no experience leading a large party.

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