Kim Jong-in: "Yoon Has No Choice But to 'Test the Waters'... Public Sentiment Tour Only Annoys the People"

On the afternoon of the 3rd, at the MH Convention Center in Dong-gu, Daegu, former People Power Party emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in is listening to greetings from attendees during a special lecture hosted by the New Daegu Movement.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Former People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in commented on former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's actions, saying, "It inevitably leads to being called a move to test the waters, as former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min described."

Kim appeared on KBS's 'Sasa Geongeon' on the 17th and stated, "Because former Prosecutor General Yoon has consistently maintained an ambiguous stance, he has inevitably drawn considerable public criticism."

He pointed out, "I said that around mid-May, it was a prerequisite for him to clearly declare his position regarding his (presidential) candidacy and start taking action, but Yoon's position has not yet been clearly announced."

He continued, "(Mid-May) is more than two months after he resigned as Prosecutor General, so by that time, he should have had his own thoughts. Yoon is not a politician but held the position of Prosecutor General and received public support, so the most important task is how he maintains and expands that support. It seems there has been some confusion in establishing that system."

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol adjusts his mask at the opening ceremony of Namsan Yejang Park in Seoul on the afternoon of the 9th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim also said that if former Prosecutor General Yoon clearly states his firm position on the presidential election, it is not necessarily bad to cautiously delay deciding which party to join.

He said, "If he had clearly declared his position in mid-May, Yoon's current standing would have been much better," but added, "I don't think the stance Yoon's side is currently taking is bad for him."

Regarding Yoon's recent consideration of a political approach involving a 'listening to public opinion tour,' Kim advised, "In the past, people like Sohn Hak-kyu also did public opinion tours, and Ahn Cheol-soo did the same. It is wise not to engage in artificial actions just to create appearances."

He added, "Even though times have changed, continuing to show the same political behavior as in the past only irritates the public."