Kim Jong-in "If Lee Jae-myung wants to meet, I can meet him... I know him well on a personal level"

Kim Jong-in Draws the Line on Election Support Including Participation in Lee Jae-myung's Camp
Regarding Kim Gun-hee, "A Person Who Speaks Carelessly Without Caution"

Former People Power Party General Election Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in expressed his willingness to meet Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Kim Jong-in, former chairman of the People Power Party's election committee, stated that "there is no need to refuse a meeting as a private individual" and expressed his willingness to meet Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea.

In an interview with 'OhmyTV' on the afternoon of the 26th, Kim said that while he would not provide election support for Lee, he could have a reasonable conversation if necessary.

Kim recalled an anecdote from when he was the emergency committee chairman of the Democratic Party, mentioning that he once advised Lee Jae-myung, then mayor of Seongnam, against fasting. He said, "(Lee) occasionally called me to ask how I was doing. So, on a personal level, he is someone I know well."

Regarding a meeting with Lee, Kim said, "If he wants to meet, then we can meet. As a private individual, there is no particular reason for me to refuse." He added, "As a politician and presidential candidate, I can have a reasonable conversation if necessary." However, he stated that he would not directly assist the election by joining the campaign.

Kim also drew a line regarding his return to the People Power Party's election headquarters, saying, "I do not go back to a place I have once left."

On the afternoon of the 16th, the MBC program "Straight," which covers the '7-hour phone call' content of Kim Geon-hee, spouse of Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, is being broadcast on the electronic billboard at the MBC building in Sangam-dong, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, in the so-called '7-hour recording' of Kim Geon-hee, spouse of People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Seok-youl, released by MBC, Kim Geon-hee said, "(Kim Jong-in) originally wanted to come to the People Power Party, continuously," and added, "Why wouldn't he want to come? It's like coming to a feast with food." In response, Kim Jong-in said, "(Kim Geon-hee) is someone who speaks carelessly without caution, so she talks as she pleases without knowing the full context," and added, "I don't feel the need to pay much attention to her words."

Kim further criticized, "If she asks for help and I think about helping, she should be grateful. But if these people give the impression that I am expecting something from them, I cannot cooperate with them anymore."

Regarding Kim Geon-hee's expression "if I seize power," Kim Jong-in said, "It was an inappropriate remark for the wife of a presidential candidate," and predicted, "Such issues will have a considerable impact on voters' decisions in the future."