Kim Jong-in to Ahn: "I have never been negative... Unification will be in March"

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman 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@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, said regarding the People's Party's statement asking to stop negative remarks toward Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People's Party, "I haven't really said such things."

Chairman Kim made these remarks after the Emergency Committee meeting held at the National Assembly that morning when speaking with reporters.

In response to concerns that the emotional rift between the two parties might be deepening, he dismissed the notion, saying, "As I have repeatedly said, we are currently in the process of selecting our party's candidate through the primary election, so there is no need to keep making such remarks from now on."

Chairman Kim stated, "I told Representative Ahn that unification talks should only happen in early March or after he joins our party and participates in the primary election, so he should decide on one of the two options and then talk," adding, "(Since Representative Ahn has refused to join the party,) it is not too late to discuss unification after a candidate is selected. After that, there is nothing more to discuss." This indicates that the deadlocked unification talks will be postponed to focus more on selecting the party's candidate.

Regarding the reports about allegations of preferential treatment of family members by Representative Kang Ki-yoon, he said, "It seems he has no choice but to explain specifically," and withheld judgment, noting, "There was no specific discussion about this in the meeting."