Kkum ppajin Gungminuihim Seondaewi... Bon-gyeok Chulbum Jeonbuteo Nanhang (Summary)

Kim Jong-in Refuses to Join the Election Committee
"No More Blind Support" Expresses Discomfort
Yoon Seok-yeol Expected to Mediate Inside and Outside the Party

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is delivering a memorial speech at the 6th anniversary memorial service held at the burial site of former President Kim Young-sam in the National Seoul National Cemetery, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 22nd. 2021.11.22 Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Hyunju Lee and Juni Park] The ‘Three Kims (Kim Jong-in, Kim Han-gil, Kim Byung-joon) Election Committee System’ envisioned by Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party’s presidential candidate, is on the verge of collapse. On the 23rd, Kim Jong-in, former emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, directly expressed his refusal to join the campaign committee, prompting simultaneous efforts to persuade him again and to find a ‘replacement figure.’ Attention is also turning to how the delay in launching the People Power Party’s campaign committee might affect the presidential election dynamics.

On the same day, Kim met with reporters at an office near Gwanghwamun and clearly stated his refusal to join the campaign committee, saying, "Please do not ask any more questions. I have nothing to say." He added, "I also have my own work to do," and questioned, "I have no obligation or courtesy to pay attention only to such things (the campaign committee), do I?" He also revealed the recent uncomfortable atmosphere by stating that he has no plans to call or meet with candidate Yoon. Even as he left the office before lunch, he emphasized, "I only considered responding because the other party requested it, nothing more than that, so please do not ask questions," and "I am not someone who acts with a special purpose like other politicians."

The rift between candidate Yoon and Kim was anticipated from the start of forming the campaign committee. Kim demanded a simple, staff-centered campaign committee, but Yoon built a mammoth campaign committee under the banner of ‘regime change.’ The conflict deepened when Yoon announced on the 21st that Kim would serve as the general campaign committee chairman without Kim’s consent.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Moreover, Kim’s opposition to appointing Kim Byung-joon, former emergency committee chairman of the Liberty Korea Party, was completely ignored. It is reported that Kim contacted Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, on the afternoon of the 23rd, asking him not to announce the appointment plan at the supreme council meeting scheduled for the next day (the 22nd).

When asked about the candidate’s proposed campaign committee composition, including the appointment of Kim Byung-joon as standing campaign committee chairman, Kim curtly replied, "If the candidate judged it to be the best method, then you accept it as is. What is there to comment on that?" It is also reported that Yoon’s side has been dissatisfied with Kim’s frequent vetoes since last week. A source from Yoon’s camp said, "Many felt it was unreasonable to say that the campaign committee announcement could not be made because Kim was holding things back," describing the atmosphere.

Although Kim has declared he will not join the campaign committee, Yoon’s side is expected to coordinate both inside and outside the party. Chief spokesperson Lee Yang-su said, "Didn’t the candidate say the day before to take some time and watch for a day or two?" and added, "We still don’t know when or how it will happen," leaving some room for Kim’s participation. Chief spokesperson Kim Byung-min also appeared on a radio show that morning and mentioned that the possibility of Kim not joining was ‘not very likely,’ saying, "It’s hard to say 100%, but I am confident that it is not the case." Political commentator Yoo Chang-sun pointed out, "If Yoon loses Kim Jong-in, he will face a very unstable path," adding, "There is no one around him to lead the path of centrist expansion. That is the cold reality."

However, it seems that candidate Yoon has already prepared for the worst-case scenario of a ‘campaign committee without Kim Jong-in.’ When reporters asked about Kim’s participation in the campaign committee that day, Yoon responded coldly, using the term ‘that gentleman.’ It is known that since last week, Yoon’s camp has been considering appointing one of the prime minister-level figures as the general campaign committee chairman in case Kim does not join the campaign committee.