D-93 Yoon Seok-yeol Administration Launches Pre-election Committee... Will It Form a 'One Team' with Kim Jong-in and Kim Byung-joon? (Comprehensive)

Awkward Kim Jong-in and Kim Byung-joon, Hong Joon-pyo and Yoo Seung-min still
Targeting youth with 20s representative speech on 'Street Woman Fighter'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Juni Park] The People Power Party's election committee, centered on presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, general election committee chairman Kim Jong-in, and standing election committee chairman Kim Byung-joon, officially launched on the 6th. Although they gathered in one place after resolving conflicts during the formation process, achieving harmony between the two chairmen who show differing opinions remains a challenge.

On the same day, the People Power Party held the inauguration ceremony for the Central Election Committee at the KSPO Dome in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The ceremony was attended by candidate Yoon, Chairman Kim Jong-in, Chairman Kim Byung-joon, Representative Lee Jun-seok, and other party election committee members. However, former primary candidates Representative Hong Joon-pyo and former Representative Yoo Seung-min have yet to join as the election committee set sail.

Kim Han-gil, former Democratic Party leader who leads the New Era Preparation Committee alongside the election committee, was also absent. Candidate Yoon’s wife, Kim Geon-hee, did not make an appearance either.

The inauguration ceremony was planned with a focus on 'youth appeal.' As the event began, a dance competition took place featuring theme songs from popular programs recently trending among the 2030 generation, such as the broadcast show "Street Woman Fighter" and the Netflix drama "Squid Game."

After the atmosphere heated up, speeches followed from the candidate, chairmen, the representative, and ordinary citizens. In his vision speech, candidate Yoon emphasized the need for regime change, saying, "The Democratic Party government, which throws the common people's sleeping places onto cold streets and serves the corrupt vested interests, is a government for whom exactly?" He added, "We must definitely judge this disgusting, corrupt, and incompetent regime. We must replace this tiresome and disgusting hypocritical government."

He continued, "What we need most right now is 'unity,'" and said, "From now on, whether nine out of ten or ninety-nine out of a hundred things differ, if we share the single will for regime change, we must all unite our strength."

He pledged to change the election campaign method for party innovation. Candidate Yoon said, "In the past, the party election committee was operated formally, but the actual campaign was centered on a small external camp. I will completely break this custom and run the election centered on the party election committee."

He also emphasized ambitions for centrist expansion. He stated, "We must rebuild the weakened regional party committees and strengthen youth and women. We must expand the support base with centrism and rational progressivism to make them key players in winning the presidential election."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Chairmen Kim Jong-in and Kim Byung-joon also revealed their aspirations and values as they lead the election committee. Before their speeches, the two chairmen sat side by side but showed somewhat awkward expressions without conversing.

Chairman Kim Jong-in said, "The government's incompetence and corruption are beyond measure. While people's livelihoods fall into despair, the president boasts only hollow statistics today." He added, "We stand at the starting point of a long journey to judge the incompetent and corrupt Moon Jae-in government and to form a new government that revives livelihoods and the economy on the brink, establishing fairness and common sense."

He then emphasized youth, saying, "Above all, we must give hope to the youth so they can find jobs and become a country where young couples can raise children with peace of mind." He added, "We must create a world where young people want to live and draw out political participation from the cynical younger generation."

Standing Election Committee Chairman Kim Byung-joon placed emphasis on 'liberalism.' He said, "Not just common liberalism, but a new liberalism where discourse on distribution, safety, and fairness is alive and vibrant, and a system based on this will be central." He expressed confidence that candidate Yoon can create such a new government with this philosophy.

He also criticized Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, stating, "This is the return of populism. Whether left or right, when nationalism combines with populism, history ends in catastrophe and ruin." He added, "A country where growth and distribution create a virtuous cycle. This is the mission imposed on all our people."

Regarding the differences between the two, candidate Yoon said, "Even if our thoughts differ slightly, I am confident we will unite our strength to create synergy and do well." He explained, "Expressing various opinions and reaching some consensus is an important process of democracy."

Meanwhile, Representative Lee Jun-seok, who serves as co-standing election committee chairman, referred to the conflicts with candidate Yoon during the committee formation process, saying, "I will accept criticism for the recent confusion. I hoped schemers who tear others down and sow discord to create their own positions would not come in."

He continued, "As a political newcomer, I am free from the complex interests in politics so far. I have quietly done my work under any regime and am a steadfast figure who knows how to wait for opportunities when oppressed," praising candidate Yoon.

At the inauguration ceremony, two youth representatives from the 2030 generation also took the stage. Male youth representative Kim Min-gyu, who participated in 'I am the National Representative (People Power Party Spokesperson),' said, "The footsteps of the People Power Party have always been discordant. A 30-something party leader who does not understand Yeouido's rules, a party loyal to fairness and the rule of law, not to people." He added, "Others mocked it as discord, but this is how we have won, and we will win again this time."

Female youth representative Baek Ji-won said, "South Korea stands at a crossroads of national survival," and added, "I want to live in a proud Korea full of fair competition, hope, and happiness. Candidate Yoon will win for the people, freedom, and justice."