Kim Jaewon: "TK Purge Creates Chaos During Candidate Selection"

Yeo, SBS Interview with Supreme Council Member
"No Substance to Pro-Park New Party, Skeptical"
"Former President Park's TK Influence? Naturally Present"

"(Daegu·Gyeongbuk) have continuously replaced members of the National Assembly under the premise that anyone can get elected during election times."

Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party, expressed a skeptical view on the so-called TK (Daegu·Gyeongbuk) reshuffle theory in an interview with SBS's 'Kim Taehyun's Political Show' on the 12th.

Kim said, "Honestly, personally, I have always opposed it," adding, "It’s not that truly heroic figures who would open a new era have come, but rather just similar kinds of people, so in the Gyeongbuk region, the most senior member is a re-elected member." He pointed out that due to the TK reshuffle happening every general election, a vicious cycle continues where multi-term lawmakers do not emerge.

Kim also said, "There is an evaluation among local residents that politicians from Daegu·Gyeongbuk have not played a significant role in either the regional or central political landscape."

Kim Jae-won, Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party, is attending and speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of May 1. On the left is Kim Ki-hyun, the party leader.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Kim diagnosed, "There is a tendency to belittle the region by saying that anyone sent to Daegu·Gyeongbuk will get elected, even if it’s a poker. In reality, multi-term and senior lawmakers are gradually disappearing in Daegu·Gyeongbuk, and the region is formed mostly by first- or second-term lawmakers, which itself causes dissatisfaction. People say they are too lightweight and lack presence. It’s a complicated situation."

In particular, Kim criticized, "They say they have done a so-called reshuffle, but if excellent talents come and lead politics, that would be good. However, if mediocre people just pass four years of their term, what have they really done? They lack presence. This is the actual criticism they receive. So everything should be balanced, but the TK reshuffle turns the nomination period into a chaotic scene."

Regarding former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Choi Kyung-hwan, who is attracting attention for his possible candidacy in the 22nd general election on April 10 next year, Kim said, "We have only talked on the phone and haven’t met," adding, "There are strong rumors in the region that he will run."

Kim said, "Since we haven’t had a proper conversation, I don’t know for sure, but the conditions for running are sufficient," and added, "There are many rumors that he will run in the Gyeongsan area."

However, Kim drew a line regarding the pro-Park Shin-dang (New Party), which some in the political circle are paying attention to. He explained, "The pro-Park Shin-dang has no substance at all, and I am skeptical about whether such a party will be reborn in the future."

When asked if former President Park Geun-hye still has political influence in TK, Kim answered, "Of course, she has influence."

Kim explained, "However, whether former President Park will intervene politically in such a situation to ensure that people close to her get elected during the general election process is unknown. I expect she will not actively get involved."

Regarding his own candidacy, Kim drew a line, saying, "As the Supreme Council Member who received the highest number of votes, talking about running as an independent now doesn’t make sense. But if conditions allow, I want to run, and that has been misinterpreted as running as an independent, which is not true." This means it is not yet the stage to express an opinion on running as an independent.

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