Kim Jong-in: "Goal is a negotiation group... We will nominate flawless candidates"

Appointment of Kim as Chairperson of the Reform New Party Nomination Committee
"Economic Reform to Address Polarization Issues"
"Not Concerned About Approval Ratings, Public Acceptance is Key"

Kim Jong-in, the nomination management committee chairman of the Reform New Party, stated that the party aims to secure more than 20 seats in the upcoming general election. He said the selection principle for nominations would be to choose 'candidates without issues.' This strategy is interpreted as an effort to minimize additional risks such as nomination controversies following the failure of integration, with just over 40 days left before the election.

On the morning of the 26th, after the Reform New Party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, Chairman Kim told reporters, "We will strive to secure enough seats to form at least a negotiation group." Since a negotiation group in the National Assembly refers to a party with 20 or more affiliated lawmakers, the goal is to secure at least a double-digit number of seats.

Chairman Kim identified economic reform as the core keyword for the Reform New Party in this general election. He pointed out that the two major parties have failed to present concrete alternatives regarding the deepening polarization issue. He emphasized, "Primarily, we need to present what will be done for about 2.4 million basic livelihood security recipients, their human rights, and living stability." This is based on the judgment that without solving such problems, social integration in the Republic of Korea is impossible.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

To this end, the Reform New Party plans to select candidates centered on 'people without issues.' This means prioritizing the ability to perform politically rather than well-known figures. He said, "It is meaningless to bring someone just because they have a name vaguely." This is also interpreted as a move to prevent additional negative factors related to nominations amid the recent decline in approval ratings following the failure of the third-zone big tent with the New Future Party.

Regarding the low approval ratings, he said, "I am not paying much attention. I do not think the current polls reflect the election," adding, "If the Reform New Party impresses on the public what kind of party it pursues and the public accepts it, it will succeed."

However, there are many skeptical views in the political circle about Chairman Kim's involvement. It is said that the formula Kim used to lead victories in the two major parties is very different from the environment of a third-zone new party. In particular, a weak support base and insufficient organizational strength are cited as disadvantages. This is because the organizational strength and support base that allowed Chairman Kim to win with the keyword 'economic democratization' in 2011 at Saenuri Party (former People Power Party) or to achieve 'reform nominations' in 2016 at the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (former Democratic Party of Korea) are weak in the Reform New Party.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Chairman Kim said, "The two parties I helped in the past had a foundation, so it was possible to move in ways favorable to elections according to the times," adding, "Since the Reform New Party is a newly formed party, the outcome depends solely on the trust of the people."

The political circle expects Chairman Kim to use Lee Jun-seok's candidacy as a card to change the party's atmosphere. It is reported that Lee Jun-seok is considering running in one of three constituencies: Gimhae-eul, Hwaseong Dongtan, or Daegu Suseong-gu. Lee has drawn a line by saying, "I have not discussed the constituency I plan to run in." However, Chairman Kim judged, "Lee should run in Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK), the conservative mainstream, and take the challenge."

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