Kim Jong-in "I Don't Understand the Presidential Office's Strong Reaction to Na Kyung-won"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Former People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in said he "does not quite understand" the presidential office's strong reaction to Na Kyung-won's low birthrate policy of 'loan forgiveness.'

Former Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kim appeared on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 10th and said, "I personally do not understand why such a strong reaction is shown to an opinion that was announced individually."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Na, the Vice Chair of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee, announced a low birthrate measure on the 5th that included forgiving debts upon childbirth, but the presidential office unusually stated that it "does not align with the government's stance."

Former Chairman Kim said the 'debt forgiveness' idea is "just one idea among low birthrate measures, so I don't think it is particularly important in itself" and added, "Currently, various discussions can arise regarding low birthrate measures." He implied that it could have been dismissed as a 'personal opinion.'

There is also analysis that the presidential office's strong reaction is due to Na's potential bid for party leadership. Former Chairman Kim said, "That interpretation is possible" and added, "In fact, when Na was appointed as Vice Chair of the Low Birthrate Committee, it implicitly meant she should not run for party leadership, but since she showed a direction contrary to that, I speculate that such a strong reaction came out."

Regarding Na's bid for party leadership, former Chairman Kim said, "It is up to her to decide based on her fundamental political goals" but also said, "(No one) can stop her from challenging the party leadership to achieve her (political) goals."

If Na runs, she may be classified as a 'non-Yoon' candidate, which could be disadvantageous in a party convention influenced by Yoon's support. On this, former Chairman Kim said, "Each person challenges the leadership with their own political capabilities, so there is no need to specially talk about issues like Yoon's support or non-Yoon support," and added, "(Whether Yoon's support will dominate the convention) cannot be definitively said yet."

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