[On-site Video] "I Will Accept the Rod and Criticism Willingly" Yoon Disbands Entire Election Committee

"Back to the Beginning... Reflecting on Disappointing Moves in 2030"
Kim Jong-in, Chief Election Committee Chairman, Voluntarily Resigns

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon, PD Yoon Jin-geun] "As of today, I will disband the election campaign committee."

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, declared on the 5th the complete disbandment of the party's election campaign committee (ECC). Recently, Candidate Yoon has been on the defensive amid declining approval ratings and various internal party conflicts. Representative Lee Jun-seok publicly criticized the ECC as being a 'mammoth'?large in size but inefficient. On this day, Candidate Yoon emphasized that the future ECC will be reorganized into a 'thoroughly practical ECC' and a 'slim ECC.' The new head of the campaign headquarters will be four-term lawmaker Kwon Young-se.

At a press conference held at the Yeouido party headquarters, Candidate Yoon stated, "We will start anew with a different approach from what we have done so far. We acknowledge the mistakes of the election campaign, which was called a mammoth and failed to properly grasp public sentiment, and we will correct them," declaring the full disbandment of the ECC.

Candidate Yoon said, "I embarked on the political path solely for regime change. I promised to rectify the fairness and common sense that were broken under the Moon Jae-in administration," adding, "However, many citizens are now worried whether regime change is possible. We should have led our election campaign organization and the People Power Party well to reassure the public, but we failed to do so," showing a self-reflective attitude.

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is holding a press conference to announce the dissolution of the election campaign committee and his position at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 5th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

He continued, "All of this is entirely my responsibility as the candidate. I also apologize to the public for causing concern due to issues related to my family," and emphasized, "I will accept the public's criticism and punishment for my shortcomings. The principles and standards I have consistently held will be applied equally to myself, my family, and those around me."

Regarding the decline in approval ratings, Candidate Yoon mentioned the 20s and 30s age groups, saying, "I deeply reflect on the actions that disappointed the 2030 generation so far and promise to show a completely different side. I will return to the original Yoon Seok-yeol that the public expected." He added, "I will speak not what I want to say, but what the people want to hear," and stressed, "Please give me some time. I will surely show the public a changed Yoon Seok-yeol with a different appearance."

Kim Jong-in, the General Election Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is answering reporters' questions in front of his private office in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the morning of the 5th. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Regarding Chairman Kim, who resigned from the position of overall campaign committee chairman, Candidate Yoon said, "I sincerely thank Chairman Kim Jong-in, who has given me much advice and served as the overall campaign committee chairman, and I asked him to continue giving good advice in the future."

Earlier, Chairman Kim met with reporters in front of his personal office in Gwanghwamun, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and explained his intention to resign as overall campaign committee chairman, saying, "I said if our intentions don't match, we have no choice but to part ways," and added, "The proposal to reorganize the campaign committee for Candidate Yoon's victory was not well understood, and look at the words being poured out by those around me."