Yoon's Campaign Committee Without Kim Jong-in... Leaving the Seat Empty

Today, the People Power Party's Election Committee Launches
In Addition to Close Aides, Recruitment of Kim Faction Members

Expanded to 6 Headquarters-Level Personnel
Uncertainty Surrounds the Cold Kim's Participation

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, attended the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 25th and announced the heads of the election campaign headquarters./Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Naju-seok, Lee Hyun-joo, Geum Bo-ryeong] The People Power Party's election campaign committee was launched on the 25th without deciding whether former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in would join. The campaign committee system is prepared for the possibility that Kim may join later, but the atmosphere between presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol and Kim remains cold.

The People Power Party held an executive meeting that day and announced the campaign committee personnel plan. The number of headquarters chiefs, initially expected to be four, increased to six. Five-term lawmaker Joo Ho-young was appointed as head of the Organization General Headquarters, former lawmaker Kim Sung-tae as head of the Functional General Headquarters, Secretary-General Kwon Seong-dong as head of the Party Affairs Support Headquarters, and lawmaker Kwon Young-se as head of the General Special Advisory Group. Former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong, who also participated in the primary, was appointed head of the Policy General Headquarters, and party leader Lee Jun-seok took charge of the Public Relations Media Headquarters. The spokespeople were decided as lawmakers Kim Eun-hye and Jeon Ju-hye. The chairpersons of the Weak Accompaniment Committee were to be directly held by lawmaker Kim Mi-ae and the candidate himself. Three days after the announcement of standing campaign committee chairs Kim Byung-joon and Lee Jun-seok, the campaign committee took shape overall.

The characteristics of this practical personnel appointment reveal that key positions were filled with Yoon’s close aides while considering Kim’s future participation in the campaign committee. First, Joo and Kwon, close aides of candidate Yoon, were put in charge of organization and party affairs, respectively. Also, Kwon, who was active behind the scenes during Yoon’s entry into the People Power Party, leads the special advisory group. However, the inclusion of former governor Won and leader Lee also appears to be a strategic move to pave the way for Kim’s joining. About half of the headquarters chiefs were appointed from among Kim’s close associates. Additionally, the internal party power dynamics seem calculated. While the pro-Lee Myung-bak faction was prominent in the past, the inclusion of Kwon, known as pro-Park, gave a balanced composition.

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and Kim Jong-in, former emergency committee chairman, are entering a restaurant in downtown Seoul for a dinner meeting on the evening of the 24th. 2021.11.24 Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers [Image source=Yonhap News]

On that day, candidate Yoon urged speeding up the campaign committee appointments, originally scheduled for the 20th. Yoon said, "It is problematic if the campaign is delayed, and we must save every minute and second," adding, "We want to show a different image from the Democratic Party, which embraces centrists and reasonable progressives."

However, despite a dinner meeting with candidate Yoon the previous day, former chairman Kim has yet to clearly state whether he will participate or not. Kim’s close aide, former presidential chief of staff Lim Tae-hee, was named head of the Comprehensive Situation Headquarters but was not included in the final personnel plan. That morning, Kim met with reporters on his way to the office near Gwanghwamun but only said, "I have nothing to say." For now, the People Power Party side appears to continue courting Kim. Candidate Yoon also said, "While organizing the campaign committee first, we will sequentially make repeated efforts to bring in external recruits," adding, "We will continue to strengthen the organization during the campaign period," keeping the door open. Supreme council member Kim Jae-won also said on the radio that day, "I plan to visit (former chairman Kim) this evening," adding, "I am prepared to sacrifice myself to harmonize the two opinions and will listen carefully without concern for my own pride."