Kim Jong-in Meets Senior Members, Responds to Complaints with "I'm Just Someone Who Does My Job"

Party Leadership-Senior Members Joint Meeting
Dismisses Some Senior Lawmakers' Criticism with "No Interest" and "Should Focus Energy on Elections"

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is attending the joint meeting of the Emergency Response Committee Chairman and senior lawmakers held at the National Assembly on the 21st, delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, and senior lawmakers who have maintained an uncomfortable relationship gathered in one place on the 21st. At this meeting, some lawmakers indirectly expressed dissatisfaction toward Chairman Kim by urging him to increase communication. However, Chairman Kim downplayed the recent complaints, saying, "I am someone who only needs to do my own work."

The meeting drew attention as it was held amid continuous harsh criticism from veteran politicians and some senior lawmakers toward Chairman Kim. Joint meetings between the leadership and senior lawmakers had been held every Wednesday but had not taken place since early last month. Because of this, there was speculation that Chairman Kim arranged the meeting to address internal party dissatisfaction and clear up misunderstandings. Lawmakers Jeong Jin-seok, Kim Ki-hyun, Kwon Young-se, and Hong Moon-pyo attended the meeting.

During the meeting, some lawmakers voiced sharp criticism toward the party. Lawmaker Hong said, "It is time to review whether the People Power Party did well in this National Assembly audit," and added, "If the ruling party conducts the audit as it pleases, what is the value of the opposition party?" He argued that the party should focus its efforts on summoning Kim Bong-hyun, the former chairman of Star Mobility who is currently imprisoned, as a witness for the audit. He sharpened his criticism by saying, "The Republic of Korea is being toyed with over a single letter, yet why can't we go find him or call him out? Not being able to do that is our incompetence."

Lawmaker Kim emphasized, "The party must now pull itself together," and added, "We need to move beyond addition and engage in multiplication politics." He continued, "If we do not reform ourselves and show a dynamic image, we could perish along with the Democratic Party. The leadership must now take concrete actions for a leap forward," and requested, "Please actively recruit figures who can broaden the party’s appeal to centrists and refine and highlight internal talents to the fullest." He also stressed, "Measures for the reinstatement of defectors and alliances with forces sharing the philosophy of liberal democracy are necessary," and urged, "Through active communication with lawmakers, please ensure a solid consensus is formed within the party."

Compared to previously raised remarks such as "Let's end the emergency committee here" (Lawmaker Jo Kyung-tae), "The leadership must stake their positions to enforce a special prosecutor" (Lawmaker Kim Tae-heum), and "The opposition party is failing in its role" (Advisor Park Kwan-yong), the level of criticism was lower but still indirectly pointed out the leadership’s lack of political initiative and communication.

However, Chairman Kim did not make any particular remarks about internal party dissatisfaction during the public speaking session. Immediately after the meeting, when asked by reporters, he drew a line by saying, "(The dissatisfaction voiced by some senior lawmakers) does not concern me. I am someone who only needs to do my own work." Regarding demands for reinstatement, he dismissed them by saying, "I have never thought about it," and added, "I have no time to think about anything else because I must devote all my energy to next year’s by-elections."