Outgoing Floor Leader Kim Ki-hyun: "I Will Not Hesitate to Speak Frankly to the Yoon Seok-yeol Government"

"I believe I have a key role in leading the party
If we drift away from public sentiment, the party's existence is at risk
True cooperation requires competition between ruling and opposition parties over people's livelihood"

Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, is holding a farewell press conference at the National Assembly on the 7th, sharing his reflections. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, held a farewell press conference at the National Assembly on the 7th and said, "I believe I have a central role in leading the party and will actively seek it out," adding that he would not hesitate to offer harsh criticism toward the Yoon Seok-yeol administration.

After the Supreme Council meeting that day, Kim held a press conference and stated, "With only about 100 seats, the People Power Party had no one to rely on but the people," and added, "Believing that drifting away from public sentiment threatens not only regime change but the very existence of the party, I have strived to reflect public opinion in all decision-making processes."

He said, "Passing a supplementary budget that provides substantial support to small business owners and self-employed individuals struggling due to COVID-19, rather than a token supplementary budget, and blocking the passage of harmful laws like the Media Arbitration Act were great achievements as floor leader," and emphasized, "The ruling and opposition parties should compete based on 'livelihood logic,' not factional logic. I am confident that true cooperation and protection of the people's lives can be achieved only when both sides compete over the people's livelihood." He further stressed the need to create a '3-Saeng (生) National Assembly' based on 'coexistence, livelihood, and welfare' instead of 'double standards,' 'defending vested interests,' and 'opposition for the sake of opposition.'

Kim said, "We need to study alternatives to livelihood issues and listen more to voices from the field," adding, "While the success of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration will be a starting point, I will fulfill my role in selecting leaders and producing capable figures."

He also stated, "I will not hesitate to speak frankly for the smooth sailing of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration by faithfully serving public sentiment," and emphasized, "Consultations between the president, the executive branch, and the ruling party must be based on mutual checks and balances. I have experienced several times that cooperation without this leads to mutual destruction. A tense relationship is absolutely necessary."