Kim Jong-hyeok: "Na's Dismissal is a Sign of Yoon's Displeasure"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jong-hyuk, a member of the People Power Party's emergency committee, interpreted President Yoon Seok-yeol's dismissal of former lawmaker Na Kyung-won, who expressed her intention to resign from the position of Vice Chairperson of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee while weighing a run for party leader, as "a sign of displeasure."

On the 16th, Kim appeared on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and said, "I think it is a sign of displeasure regarding the policies that former lawmaker Na announced."

Kim Jong-hyuk, Emergency Response Committee member of the People Power Party, is attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Former lawmaker Na was concurrently serving as Vice Chairperson of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee and Climate Ambassador since last October, but recently submitted her resignation from the vice chair position as she considered running for party leader. However, President Yoon did not accept her resignation and instead dismissed her from the Climate Ambassador position, which she had not resigned from. This action can be interpreted as a sign of displeasure.

Kim said, "It is an important position, but after entrusting her with that important role, there seemed to be displeasure over the fact that she was using the policies of that committee to promote her own election campaign in order to run for party leader." He added, "The president's style seems to be, 'If that's the case, just quit and do as you please.' It seems to mean that she should give up all her positions and try doing what she wants."

Regarding the internal party turmoil surrounding former lawmaker Na's candidacy, he said, "When a primary election takes place, fierce attacks occur, and the fight is as intense as between the ruling and opposition parties. People on both sides want to defeat the other, so they exchange attacks and arrows, and it seems to be escalating beyond control."

He continued, "This is the essence of competition, but the problem is that even in this competition, since it is an internal party primary, there should be boundaries or some leniency as fellow party members, but those boundaries are being crossed and attacks are being exchanged," expressing concern.

Former lawmaker Na appears to be moving forward with her candidacy. There are also reports that she appointed former Gyeonggi Bundang-eul Party Committee Chair Kim Min-su as her spokesperson.

In response, Kim Jong-hyuk relayed the results of a phone call with Committee Chair Kim, saying, "'I have never been appointed as a spokesperson; this is the first time I have heard such a thing,' he said." He added, "Whether Committee Chair Kim was appointed spokesperson or not, it seems that former lawmaker Na is leaning toward running."

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