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 2nd and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] On the 18th, Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, harshly called Ahn Cheol-soo, the People's Party candidate for Seoul mayor, a "mentally abnormal person."
After concluding the Emergency Committee meeting that day, Kim said to reporters, "In my view, that person seems to be mentally abnormal." Earlier, when Ahn faced criticism referring to his wife, Kim Mi-kyung, a professor at Seoul National University, as the "female emperor," he countered by suggesting, "Isn't this a confusion with Chairman Kim's wife, who has the same name?"
Despite the harsh words exchanged, the attacks have crossed the boundary of excluding family members, and both sides have already engaged in several emotional verbal battles.
On the 16th, Ahn also appeared on a radio show and mentioned that there is a "retired king" behind Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's Seoul mayor candidate. Although he did not directly name Kim Jong-in, his remarks clearly implied it was him.
In response, Lee Jun-seok, head of the New Media Division for Oh's campaign, counterattacked by referring to Ahn's wife, Professor Kim, as the "female emperor."
In reaction to this offensive, Ahn said, "Chairman Kim's wife has the same name as my wife," adding, "The only interpretation is that they confused the two."
Kim Jong-in and Ahn Cheol-soo have revealed emotional rifts during the opposition candidate unification process. Conflicts have arisen repeatedly at each stage of unification, starting with Ahn's potential entry into the People Power Party. Because of this, concerns are growing that their conflict could become a stumbling block in the future candidate unification.
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