Controversy Over 'Jo Guk Apology', Opposition Finally Calls Kim Jong-in... Shaking Presidential Election Landscape [Han Seung-gon's Political Notebook]

Yoon Seok-yeol "Full authority for election campaign to Lee Jun-seok... Will run if told to run"
Former Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in abruptly accepts position as General Election Campaign Chairman
Lee Jae-myung "If the people say it's wrong, then it's wrong" repeatedly apologizes for 'Cho Kuk incident'

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and Lee Jun-seok, the party leader, are greeting citizens wearing couple hoodies on the afternoon of the 4th at Jeolm-eum Street in Seomyeon, Busan.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "Finally, the kingmaker has stepped in." , "How will the controversy over Cho Kuk's apology unfold?"

Late at night on the 3rd, the political world focused on how Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, would meet with Lee Jun-seok, the party leader, to address the so-called 'Yoon core supporters (Yoon Seok-yeol's close aides)' issue. To summarize, former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in abruptly accepted the position of overall election committee chairman, and Lee ended his hiatus, resolving the 'Yoon core supporters' issue.

Some believe that as the gap in approval ratings between Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, and Yoon began to narrow, a sense of crisis arose that a reversal might occur. Yoon and Lee showcased a 'one team' by campaigning together in Busan.

While the People Power Party's election committee, which had been embroiled in controversies including the party leader's hiatus, showed signs of normalization, the Democratic Party faced controversy over Lee Jae-myung's apology regarding the 'Cho Kuk incident.'

Recently, when Lee apologized for the Cho Kuk incident, former Justice Minister Chu Mi-ae directly criticized him, saying it was "trampling on human dignity." Although the main presidential election schedule has begun, speculation is emerging that a rift may have formed between the two, who were once called the 'Myung-Chu alliance' during the primary.

Given this, when summarizing the current ruling and opposition party situations, some view that the presidential election landscape is shaking due to the simultaneous involvement of 'kingmaker' former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in in the People Power Party and Lee's apology over the Cho Kuk incident in the Democratic Party. Lee reiterated his apology regarding the Cho Kuk incident today (the 4th).

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and Lee Jun-seok, the party leader, shake hands before a dinner meeting at a restaurant in Ulju-gun, Ulsan on the 3rd. [Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ What was said during the surprise meeting between Yoon and Lee on the afternoon of the 3rd?

After a dinner meeting with Lee in Ulju, Ulsan, Yoon told reporters, "Kim Jong-in, as the overall election committee chairman of the People Power Party's central election committee, will oversee and coordinate all party affairs until the presidential election day in accordance with the party constitution and regulations, and will oversee the election committee."

Regarding the role adjustment of Kim Byung-joon, the standing election committee chairman, Yoon emphasized, "Kim Jong-in will lead the election committee well," and "I believe Kim Byung-joon will do his best to assist Kim Jong-in in leading the election committee." This can be interpreted as effectively granting full authority over the election committee to Kim Jong-in in a 'Kim Jong-in one-top system.'

The meeting between Yoon, Lee, and others was held abruptly just four days after Lee had effectively refused party duties and toured the country in protest against the election committee appointments.

Yoon, Lee, and floor leader Kim Ki-hyun shared all important matters related to the presidential election closely and agreed to strengthen direct communication, according to Kim Ki-heung, the senior deputy spokesperson of Yoon's election committee, and Lim Seung-ho, the party spokesperson for Lee.

They particularly agreed that "active communication and policy actions toward the younger generation are the most important aspects of this election," and regarding the candidate's priority over party affairs, they decided to interpret it as "the candidate requests the party leader for necessary election-related matters, and the party leader respects and follows the candidate's intentions." They also emphasized, "The three agreed to unite without any wavering to fulfill the people's desire for regime change."

◆ Yoon Seok-yeol: "If told to run, I will run; if told to go somewhere, I will do so"

Yoon and Lee did not return to Seoul immediately but began full-scale joint campaign activities in Busan starting today (the 4th). The approval ratings of Yoon and Lee are in a neck-and-neck race.

A public opinion poll released by Gallup Korea on the 3rd (survey conducted nationwide from the 30th of last month to the 2nd, targeting 1,000 people aged 18 and over, with a margin of error of ±3.1% at a 95% confidence level and a response rate of 15%) showed that both candidates received 36%, tying in the ratings.

Lee's approval rating rose by 5 percentage points compared to the poll conducted from the 16th to 18th of last month, while Yoon's dropped by 6 percentage points during the same period. Gallup analyzed that two weeks ago, the main opposition party candidate was leading, but now a very close competition is underway.

Among Lee's supporters (335 respondents), the reasons for support (open-ended responses) were mainly experience and competence in public office, such as "drive and execution ability" (22%), "job and administrative ability" (15%), "better than others" (9%), and "past performance and career" (6%).

On the other hand, Yoon's supporters (357 respondents) cited reasons such as "regime change" (27%), "fairness and justice" (11%), "better than others" (10%), and "new figure, freshness, non-political" (7%), reflecting expectations for breaking away from established politics and change.

Former People Power Party emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in is arriving at his office in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the morning of the 26th of last month while answering reporters' questions. [Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ What was the first statement of 'kingmaker' Kim Jong-in? Will the gap in approval ratings between Yoon and Lee widen?

Thus, attention is focused on the first statement of 'kingmaker' Kim Jong-in, the overall election committee chairman. The immediate focus is on changes in Yoon's approval ratings. Kim first became known as a kingmaker during the 2012 presidential election. At that time, he served as the chairman of the People's Happiness Promotion Committee in Park Geun-hye's campaign and led the design of economic democratization pledges. He is credited with significantly contributing to Park's election by preempting political agendas with policies such as 'life-cycle welfare.'

Regarding this, Yoon said at a meeting with reporters after a briefing at the Busan North Port redevelopment site, in response to a question about the recent polls showing a tie with Lee Jae-myung, "Those who assist me advise and set directions by looking at the scoreboard (polls), but I am an athlete, so I don't have time to look at the scoreboard."

Regarding Kim Jong-in's sudden joining of the election committee, Yoon explained, "He said he would think about it until he was confident that he could successfully run the presidential campaign, and it seems he made a decision yesterday."

Currently, Kim has stated that he will create a department within the election committee to handle only his tasks. When asked by reporters as he left his office in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, whether he was thinking of a practical election committee as he emphasized before, Kim said, "(Since) many appointments have already been made, I cannot say anything about the people who are already in. I will create a department and focus only on my tasks."

Kim's close aide, former lawmaker Lim Tae-hee, told reporters, "Kim told Secretary-General Kwon Seong-dong that a body capable of working practically should be formed," and "Kwon replied that he would do so," he said.

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is waving his hand and greeting citizens and merchants at Seomun Market in Daegu on the 5th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News

◆ Chu Mi-ae simultaneously attacks Yoon and Lee over 'Cho Kuk incident' apology... Lee Jae-myung: "If the people say it's wrong, then it is wrong"

The Democratic Party is embroiled in controversy over Lee's apology for the 'Cho Kuk incident.' On the 3rd, former Minister Chu Mi-ae directly criticized Yoon on her Facebook regarding his demand for an apology from President Moon Jae-in over the Cho Kuk incident, saying, "It is truly astonishing shamelessness to utter shameless words demanding Cho Kuk take responsibility and apologize to the president who appointed him and defended him by saying 'stay until the end of your term.'"

The problem is that the criticism over Chu's call for an apology regarding the Cho Kuk incident is not directed only at Yoon. Chu has also expressed discomfort toward Lee.

On the previous day (the 3rd), Chu posted on her Facebook, titled "I accuse the cowardice of the times," stating, "The presidential candidate also repeatedly apologized for Cho Kuk following public opinion, but this has led to further stigmatization that 'Cho Kuk is unfair,' trampling on human dignity," expressing her opposition.

Earlier, on the 2nd, Lee said at a Broadcast Journalists Club debate regarding the Cho Kuk incident, "Within the scope of what I can do, I sincerely apologize with a very humble attitude." Relatedly, Lee today (the 4th) also reiterated his apology regarding the controversy surrounding former Minister Cho, saying, "If the people say it is wrong, then it is wrong."

Lee mentioned this during a press meeting in Gimje, Jeonbuk, saying, "I apologized on behalf of the Democratic Party for the parts where the people were disappointed in the party, and I think it is my duty to reflect on this and ensure such disappointment does not happen again. I apologize once again."

Meanwhile, within the Democratic Party, voices of criticism are emerging over Kim Jong-in joining the People Power Party's election committee. Democratic Party lawmaker Jung Sung-ho posted on Facebook, "As expected, Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, gave all authority regarding the presidential election to former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in and brought him back along with Lee Jun-seok," adding, "Let's compare Yoon's leadership, who cannot decide anything alone, with Lee Jae-myung's leadership, who takes responsibility through deliberation and decision-making."

He continued, "It was a scene that clearly showed what kind of leader is needed in a transitional crisis situation," and argued, "Between Yoon, who has no preparation to recover livelihoods and the economy or overcome crises and whose national management ability has not been verified at all, and Lee, who has demonstrated outstanding drive and tremendous achievements as mayor of Seongnam and governor of Gyeonggi Province and whose competence has been verified, it is very clear who is qualified."

Jung added, "Lee Jae-myung and Yoon Seok-yeol should have unlimited debates covering all areas of state affairs. This is the candidate's duty for the people's right to know," and proposed a final debate, saying, "Yoon should not hide behind Kim Jong-in and Lee Jun-seok."