Kim Jong-in: "Opposition's Presidential Victory Probability 60-70%... Yoon Seok-yeol Will Be Uncomfortable Against Lee Jae-myung"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Kim Jong-in, former emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, forecasted on the 15th that "the opposition has a 60-70% chance of winning next year's election." He predicted that the Daejang-dong development scandal would affect the presidential election next year.

Kim appeared on CBS's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" that day and said, "The Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) incident that broke out before the previous Seoul mayoral by-election and the so-called Daejang-dong incident this time have similarities," adding, "I think it will have a considerable impact on next year's presidential election." Lee Jae-myung, governor of Gyeonggi Province and the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, is facing responsibility allegations as he was the mayor of Seongnam during the Daejang-dong scandal.

He said, "(The Daejang-dong issue) will continue until the main election next year," and added, "The Democratic Party calculated that they would win in the previous Seoul mayoral election, but the opposite result came out. I expect the opposite of the Democratic Party's expectations in next year's election as well." Kim also said, "The real estate issue should not be taken lightly," and predicted, "Public sentiment from the LH incident will carry over to the Daejang-dong scandal."

He also predicted that it would not be easy for candidate Lee to run in next year's presidential election. Kim said, "I think 60% of those who supported former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon after the Democratic primary will go to candidate Lee," and added, "Even if former leader Lee joins as the head of the election committee, it will be difficult to bring all his supporters along."

Kim foresaw that candidate Lee's difficulty in differentiating himself from the Moon Jae-in administration would also be a hindrance. He said, "Former President Park Geun-hye was able to recreate the administration after former President Lee Myung-bak because he promised to implement fundamental policies," and added, "In my view, it has become difficult for candidate Lee to differentiate himself from the Moon Jae-in administration. With the so-called suspicious eyes toward candidate Lee, differentiation is not easy, and thus, recreating the administration will not be simple."

Kim named former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl as candidate Lee's toughest opponent. He said, "Wasn't Yoon someone who never thought about becoming president?" and predicted, "In the end, it will have to be Yoon Seok-youl to start anew." Regarding Yoon writing the Chinese character for 'king' (王) on his palm during a televised debate, Kim said, "I don't think it has much significance."