Kim Jong-in's Harsh Words: "Lee Jun-seok Should Show More Patience and Endurance as Ruling Party Leader"

"Political Life Is Difficult If Party Leader Only Expresses Own Convictions"
"Misunderstandings Likely Resolved in Meeting Between President Moon and President-Elect Yoon"

Former People Power Party General Election Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in advised Representative Lee Jun-seok to exercise restraint regarding his criticism of the disability organizations' protests demanding mobility rights. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Former People Power Party (PPP) General Election Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in criticized PPP leader Lee Jun-seok, saying, "In some respects, it might be necessary to exercise restraint and patience." Lee has recently been sharpening his stance day after day against the subway protests organized by the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon), sparking backlash both inside and outside the party.

On the 29th, in an interview with Yonhap News TV's '1st Street Field,' Kim said, "If the party leader always insists only on his own convictions, it becomes difficult to carry on with politics."

He added, "I think if Lee exercised some self-restraint, there wouldn't be any particular problems. But since he keeps adding comments after making a statement, the issues are not being resolved and are instead heading in a worse direction. Now that he is about to become the ruling party's leader, rather than reacting impulsively to every situation, showing patience and endurance is the way to move toward normalcy," he advised.

Regarding the dinner meeting between President Moon Jae-in and President-elect Yoon Seok-youl the day before, Kim commented, "Before meeting, both sides seemed somewhat awkward, but they probably exchanged various talks over dinner yesterday. Because of that, many of the misunderstandings between them have likely been resolved."

On Yoon's plan to relocate the presidential office to Yongsan, Kim said, "Since the president-elect will use the location to lead South Korea for the next five years, his intentions cannot simply be ignored. Since they met the day before yesterday and the incumbent president agreed to cooperate with the office relocation, I expect it will be resolved properly within common sense."

Regarding the appointment of the first prime minister under the Yoon administration, Kim expressed skepticism, saying, "I am somewhat doubtful whether a prime minister who is an economic expert can fulfill the role of an economic 'one team.' Since President-elect Yoon is emphasizing national unity, I think he will judge from the perspective of who would be the appropriate person to achieve that unity."

On the possibility of Ahn Cheol-soo, the transition committee chairman, being appointed prime minister, Kim said, "Objectively speaking, I don't think Ahn has the mindset that he must become prime minister." He continued, "I believe he will calmly consider how to pursue his future political goals. If he thinks of ending his political career as prime minister, he might want to take the position, but if he plans to run for president again in the future, he probably won't insist on being prime minister."

Regarding the influence of former President Park Geun-hye, who returned to her Daegu residence on the 25th, on the June 1 local elections, Kim said, "Considering that a large number of people gathered to welcome her upon her discharge from the hospital, it cannot be said that former President Park has no influence at all."