Kim Jong-in "Regime Change If No Major Mistakes" Yoon Seok-yeol "Youth, Partners in Governance"

People Power Party Election Committee's First Meeting
Growing Public Demand for Accountability of Current Administration
Confidence in Youth Recruitment

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party (second from the right), Kim Byung-joon, Standing Election Committee Chairman, Kim Jong-in, General Election Committee Chairman, and Lee Jun-seok, Party Leader, attended the first meeting of the Presidential Election Campaign Committee held at the National Assembly on the 7th. Before the meeting started, they took a commemorative photo in front of a backdrop with the phrase "Revitalizing the Campaign Committee." Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Hyunju Lee and Boryeong Geum] The first message from the People Power Party’s election campaign committee, launched with Kim Jong-in as the sole head, was ‘youth’ and ‘confidence’ in regime change.

At the first meeting of the campaign committee on the 7th, Chairman Kim emphasized, "I am confident that as long as the campaign committee, including presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, does not make any major mistakes, we can bring about regime change." This analysis is based on the continuation of public sentiment for regime judgment that appeared during the recent Seoul mayoral by-election, allowing for an optimistic outlook on the election results. Candidate Yoon also expressed confidence, saying, "I believe the people and supporters who watched the campaign committee launch ceremony (the day before) will have strong hope for regime change," and added, "I think it was really good to make youth partners in state affairs."

Party leader Lee Jun-seok also said, "The greatest strength of the People Power Party is the voluntary participation of the younger generation," and provocatively expressed confidence toward the Democratic Party, which is also actively recruiting youth, saying, "If you want to follow, then follow. But your legs might get stretched too far." On this day, the campaign committee leadership wore matching red jumpers to reaffirm the ‘one team’ spirit.

Meanwhile, the campaign committee expanded its centrist and youth outreach through additional appointments announced that day. Former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, who left the Democratic Party, was recruited as head of the Strategic Planning Office. Geum will be responsible for strategic planning while responding to the overall situation of the campaign committee. As a representative anti-Moon Jae-in figure with a centrist inclination, Geum’s joining has strengthened the centrist appointments within the campaign committee.

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party (left), is attending the first meeting of the Presidential Election Campaign Committee held at the National Assembly on the 7th, greeting Kim Jong-in, the overall campaign committee chairman, before the meeting begins. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

Former lawmaker Oh Shin-hwan, who served as chief of the comprehensive situation room in former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min’s camp, was appointed as head of Situation Room 1. Oh has consistently advocated for reform conservatism and rational centrism.

The campaign committee plans to further expand the open recruitment of youth aides to activate participation from the 2030 generation. It is reported that candidate Yoon was deeply impressed by a speech from a high school senior at the campaign committee launch ceremony the day before. Lee Yang-su, the campaign committee’s chief spokesperson, said, "We requested that high school seniors Kim Min-gyu and Baek Ji-won, who gave impressive speeches yesterday, be appointed as spokespersons, but the secretary-general suggested they work in the candidate’s message team. They will decide on participation after the university admission results are announced."

Kim Han-gil, who serves as chairman of the New Era Preparation Committee and is one of the pillars of the ‘three Kims’ system, did not attend the meeting following the launch ceremony the day before, but the campaign committee cautioned against political interpretations. Since the New Era Preparation Committee is a special organization, attendance is not mandatory. No apparent friction was observed between Chairman Kim Jong-in and Standing Chairman Kim Byung-joon, which had been a concern.

After the meeting, candidate Yoon took his first step in activities of the Committee for Accompanying the Vulnerable, which he chairs. Focusing on safety, one of the official presidential campaign slogans ‘Fair Economy and Safe Society,’ he visited a crime victim support center and the police agency’s comprehensive situation room. The campaign committee is named the ‘Saving Campaign Committee.’ In the evening, he will engage in security activities in the Hongdae area.