[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Jang Je-won, a member of the United Future Party, strongly opposed Kim Jong-in, the party's emergency committee chairman, who recently suggested someone like Baek Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea, as a presidential candidate, calling it "mocking the potential presidential contenders."
On the 23rd, Jang appeared on KBS 1TV's 'Sasa Geongeon' and said, "I couldn't believe my ears when I heard Chairman Kim mention Baek Jong-won as a presidential candidate," adding, "Isn't this mocking the valuable assets and potential presidential contenders of the United Future Party?"
Earlier, controversy arose when it was reported that Chairman Kim said, "How about Baek Jong-won?" in response to a question about presidential candidates during a meeting with first-term proportional representatives on the 19th. Baek later caused a farce by clarifying in a media interview that he "would never even dream of it."
Jang said, "Mentioning someone like Baek Jong-won is basically saying that such a person does not exist in our party, thereby belittling our precious assets," and questioned, "Presidential candidates must be continuously verified on the ground. Has anyone succeeded as a comet-like figure appearing out of nowhere?"
On the other hand, Oh Se-hoon, former mayor of Seoul and considered a potential opposition presidential contender, said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "When I heard that, I thought it was a good analogy and a good idea," adding, "Isn't it a call to find or become a figure who is not widely rejected by the public and communicates openly with many people?"
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