People's Party's Gu Hyeok-mo Severely Criticizes "Criminal Kim Jong-in, Archetype of Old-Style Politicians"

Former Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, Kim Jong-in. / Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] On the 12th, Koo Hyuk-mo, Supreme Council Member of the People’s Party, harshly criticized former People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in, who called party leader Ahn Cheol-soo "arrogant," saying it was "arrogant behavior of a criminal."

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Council Member Koo demanded a public apology from former Chairman Kim, saying, "The arrogance of the opposition camp believing that only the People Power Party exists, and the behavior of evaluating and disparaging political parties solely by the number of National Assembly members is a prime example of old-fashioned politicians and very arrogant behavior toward the people."

Earlier, former Chairman Kim had criticized Ahn Cheol-soo, who described the April 7 by-election victory as an "opposition camp victory," saying, "How can you say such an arrogant thing? It was not an opposition camp victory but a victory for the People Power Party."

In response, Council Member Koo raised his voice in criticism, saying, "Wasn’t he the very person who stirred up mud from beginning to end, ignoring the people’s supreme mandate for opposition unity and the politics of harmony shown by the two candidates Ahn Cheol-soo and Oh Se-hoon?" He added, "His lighthearted behavior of changing his words every time based on the pros and cons of the need for unification is a scene where he destroys the achievements he has built over many years by himself."

Council Member Koo also sarcastically mentioned former Chairman Kim’s involvement in the past Donghwa Bank slush fund case, saying, "Since he was originally a criminal who lost his National Assembly seat after being sentenced to prison for bribery during his time as a lawmaker, it seems that his achievements were not that great." He urged, "I hope he immediately apologizes to the people who supported the victory of the opposition camp, including the People’s Party."

Furthermore, he criticized, "There are rumors in some quarters that he is greedily seeking power by taking U.S. President Joe Biden as a mirror and planning to run in the next presidential election, which is wishful thinking." He added, "I worry that the country might deteriorate even more if this continues."