Kim Jong-in "Unaware of People Power Party Conflict"... On 'Joining the Ruling Party' Rumors, Calls It "Nonsense"

Attended Park Yong-jin's Book Launch Event and Delivered Congratulatory Speech

Former Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in of the People Power Party is delivering a congratulatory speech at the book launch event for Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin's "Political Revolution," held at the Kyobo Building Convention Hall in Jongno, Seoul on the 1st. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Kim Jong-in, former emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party (PPP), who recently clashed over the appointment of the general election campaign committee head within the PPP, dismissed rumors of joining the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) as "nonsense."

On the morning of the 1st, Kim attended a book launch event for Park Yong-jin, a DPK lawmaker, near Gwanghwamun in Jongno, Seoul, and stated, "I hoped that if a passionate and young candidate leads the country in the Democratic Party's primary, the country would change somewhat from the past."

He added, "Looking at the recent primaries of the two major parties, Park Yong-jin was the only candidate born after 1970. Although he failed this time, I hope he will strive harder and achieve his goal next time." Park served as chief secretary to Kim Jong-in when Kim was the emergency committee chairman of the Democratic Party in 2016, establishing a connection between them.

After the event, when asked by reporters about his view on Lee Jun-seok's seclusion due to conflicts with candidate Yoon Seok-youl, Kim said, "I have no idea what is happening there."

When asked if he had spoken separately with Lee Jun-seok, he replied, "I have had no contact at all." When asked if he intended to support the Democratic Party, he said, "Don't talk nonsense," and left the venue.

Meanwhile, amid recent conflicts between candidate Yoon and Kim Jong-in within the PPP, rumors of Kim joining the Democratic Party have surfaced in some circles. Although Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party, denied the recruitment rumors on the 24th of last month, he left room for possibility by saying, "We need to see how the internal situation of the opposing party unfolds."