Kim Jong-in Criticizes Ahn Cheol-soo... "I Knew I Was Good at Judging People"

Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is holding a farewell press conference at the National Assembly on the 8th. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] Former People Power Party emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in left a sharp remark on the remarks of Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party.

According to an interview with Yonhap News Agency, on the 9th, former People Power Party emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in said, “Did you hear what Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, said when he came to the party headquarters with candidate Oh Se-hoon at midnight on the 7th?” and added, “After hearing that, I thought, ‘I really knew the person well.’”

According to former Chairman Kim, at that time, Ahn congratulated candidate Oh on his election victory and used the expression “victory of the opposition.” However, former Chairman Kim criticized this by saying, “How dare he say such an arrogant thing?” and pointed out, “It’s not the opposition’s victory, but the People Power Party’s victory.” In other words, it means that voters chose “People Power Party’s Oh Se-hoon,” not “Opposition’s Oh Se-hoon.”

Former Chairman Kim continued, “There is no such thing as the opposition now,” and “Some people are just shouting for the opposition to satisfy their own desires,” and criticized, “The People Power Party should also think about making efforts on its own based on this victory (to win the presidential election).” He also pointed out, “Even if there had been no opposition candidate unification or LH scandal, the People Power Party would have won,” adding, “Originally, the opposition lives off the ruling party’s failures. That is the practical political reality.”

When asked if he wanted to lead the party until the presidential election, former Chairman Kim replied, “I couldn’t stay any longer. There are many capable people,” and said, “It didn’t really matter who I made president in the election. Didn’t they all end up as failures? I don’t want to do that kind of thing again.” Regarding the People Power Party’s request for him to serve as a standing advisor, he declined, saying, “I don’t do that kind of thing. Advice is not something you give anytime.”