An Min-seok: "Yoo Si-min and Moon Sung-geun play roles outside the party... Surprise appointment as election committee chair possible"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] On the 29th, the campaign team of Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, mentioned former Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Chairman Yoo Si-min and actor Moon Sung-geun, stating, "We believe that each of them will devotedly play their respective roles in gathering our supporters outside the party and appealing for public support."

Regarding the campaign committee scheduled to launch on the 2nd of next month, they said, "There is a possibility that a surprise figure from outside the party will be appointed as co-chair of the campaign committee," adding, "The central region battle will be crucial going forward. The candidate who goes to the central region and wins the hearts of youth and women will win. To achieve this, it is necessary to recruit fresh and capable outsiders rather than relying on outdated personnel."

Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Min-seok, who served as the chief special advisor to Lee’s presidential campaign, said this on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae’s Focus' on the same day. Earlier, Ahn mentioned former Chairman Yoo, stating, "I understand that celebrities are preparing to appeal to supporters who have negative feelings toward the candidate." When asked whether this was hope or a plan, he replied, "They will do so," adding, "Those people will not just stand by regarding regime change. Having experienced the disastrous periods under the MB and Park Geun-hye administrations, giving power back to such political forces would be a crime against the people."

Ahn also mentioned actor Moon Sung-geun along with former Chairman Yoo, explaining, "There are non-political figures who receive good evaluations from Democratic Party supporters regardless of faction. I understand that a group encompassing such individuals is being formed."

Regarding the controversial remarks by the candidate about the restaurant quota system, he said, "Currently, the candidate is alone, but once the campaign committee is formed next week, the candidate’s wording and messages will be discussed and judged by the system," adding, "Such confusion will no longer occur. You can expect refined messages."

Concerning allegations of pressure leading to the resignation of former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation President Hwang Mu-seon, he stated, "Mr. Hwang entered through open recruitment but left without completing his term, so he must have had grievances," adding, "He probably does not have good feelings toward Lee Jae-myung or those around him. However, his remarks, which seem like spitting into the well he drinks from, are regrettable." He further said, "We cannot help but suspect that there is some tacit or intentional connection between Mr. Hwang’s grievances and the forces trying to link Lee Jae-myung to Daejang-dong."