Baek Hyun-jin: "Kim Jong-in, Surely He Wouldn't Have Expressed Anger Like Stalking Toward Ahn, Who Is Like a Son to Him"

An Celebrates "Opposition Victory"... Kim Jong-in Calls It "Arrogant Talk"

Assemblywoman Baek Hyun-jin of the People Power Party. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Former People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in called Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, "arrogant," while People Power Party lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin pointed out on the 11th, "The election is over, so would he really have expressed anger persistently like stalking toward a politician like a son who is more than thirty years younger at an age approaching ninety?"

On that day, Bae posted on her Facebook, "I was momentarily surprised to see reports that former Chairman Kim called Ahn, who said 'opposition victory,' 'arrogant.' However, I believe there must have been a different meaning behind his words that could not be contained in the limited space," she said.

She added, "I deeply agree with Ahn’s statement of 'opposition victory,'" and said, "The citizens of Seoul and our party members strongly gave the command to 'unite' throughout the election, and they allowed a victory like rain after a drought with the beautiful unity of the final two candidates."

Former Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, Kim Jong-in. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

She continued, "Former Chairman Kim, who was the head of the overall election committee for the April 15 general election last year, was also able to shake off the responsibility for the crushing defeat," and said, "It was a year-old grime that he couldn’t wash off, so I imagine how relieved he must have felt."

Additionally, Bae emphasized, "From now on, we must achieve greater unity," and said, "We must open the party’s doors wide so that our family members, including independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo and leader Ahn, can step into the ring of healthy competition together, and through efforts of listening and persuasion toward the entire opposition to 'become one and not divide,' we must truly be loved and recognized by the people."

Furthermore, she said, "This is the task that the people have instructed the People Power Party," and added, "We must not forget and faithfully fulfill our duties."

Earlier, former Chairman Kim said in an interview with Yonhap News on the 9th, "I congratulate Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on his election, and Ahn said it was an 'opposition victory,'" but criticized, "How arrogantly can he say that? It was the People Power Party’s victory. Voters voted for 'People Power Party’s Oh Se-hoon.' Ahn Cheol-soo should have congratulated the 'People Power Party’s victory.'" He went on to say, "Hearing that, I was convinced, 'You are only a politician of that level.'"

He also said, "Isn’t it obvious that Ahn Cheol-soo now wants to merge with the People Power Party and become a presidential candidate?" and sharply criticized, "Didn’t he say he would give up the presidential election when he ran for Seoul mayor? If such a person becomes president, the country will be in chaos again."