[Interview] Kim Ki-hyun: "Democratic Party Distorts Public Sentiment While Saying 'Jjeotjalsa'... Please Support the New Government"

Co-Chair of Election Countermeasures Committee
Beyond Judging the Democratic Party
Will Promote Vision and Capabilities of People Power Party Candidate
Failure if Limited to Supporters' Voices
Reflecting Thesis-Antithesis-Synthesis Principle and Diverse Public Opinions

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, holds a special meaning for the upcoming June 1 local elections. Four years ago, Kim ran for re-election as mayor of Ulsan in the local elections but tasted defeat.

Two years after the local elections, Kim returned to the National Assembly as a member of the 21st National Assembly and, as the previous floor leader, did his best in the presidential election to help the People Power Party become the ruling party. Perhaps because of this, Kim recently received a 30-day suspension from the National Assembly for obstructing a meeting by occupying the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee during the process of passing the so-called 'complete removal of prosecution investigation rights (Geomsu Wanbak)' related bill. On that day, dressed in a black suit, he appeared and declared, "I will inform the people that parliamentary democracy died today," making a determined personal statement. Song Cheol-ho, who was elected mayor of Ulsan in 2018, is also running in this election and is currently on trial over allegations of Blue House interference in the Ulsan mayoral election.

Kim, who serves as co-chairman of the local election joint campaign committee, emphasized in a written interview with Asia Economy on the 29th that "The Democratic Party of Korea still refuses to accept the will of the people who brought about a regime change by rejecting the presidential election results," and stressed that they must be judged in this election.

Below is a Q&A with Kim.

- Early voting for the June 1 local elections ended with the highest turnout ever. What is the final winning strategy?

▲ Historically, local elections have had low turnout, rarely exceeding 60%, and with the Democratic Party's strong organizational power mobilized, it will be an election where we cannot let our guard down until the end. Therefore, we sincerely appealed to not only our supporters but also many moderate voters disappointed with the Moon Jae-in administration and angered by the Democratic Party's behavior to increase turnout. In particular, beyond judging the Democratic Party, we are doing our best to convey the vision, alternatives, and capabilities of the People Power Party candidates to build trust that the People Power Party can continue to contribute to regional development.

- Although still cautious, the atmosphere seems different from four years ago. What is the outlook for the election by region (metropolitan mayors)?

▲ Initially, we aimed to win at least nine out of 17 metropolitan mayoral seats, and as time passes, the overall situation seems to be improving, but more effort is still needed. As co-chairman of the joint campaign committee, I have traveled nationwide meeting many people who express anger at the Democratic Party's arrogance and misrule that ignores public sentiment and show growing positive expectations for the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, which communicates with the people, breaks away from authoritarianism, and demonstrates practical governance. I believe this grassroots sentiment will ultimately decide the outcome of this election.

- If you were to name three expected battleground regions?

▲ I consider every electoral district a battleground. The last presidential election was held on a tilted playing field almost monopolized by the Democratic Party from the Blue House to the National Assembly and local governments. Nevertheless, the People Power Party created a miracle with the people. However, the Democratic Party arrogantly distorts public sentiment by chanting 'Jjeotjalsa (lost but fought well)' and continues to focus only on obstructing the new government. Therefore, I think the people should give overwhelming support to the People Power Party in this election to lay the foundation for regional development with the new government and clearly judge the Democratic Party, which practices double standards, hypocrisy, and illegality, to create an opportunity for great innovation. In this respect, no electoral district can be neglected. However, since there are many close contests in the metropolitan area, we plan to concentrate our final efforts in Gyeonggi, Incheon, and the Chungcheong region. According to current polls, Gyeonggi is a close race, but the upward trend of candidate Kim Eun-hye and the downward trend of candidate Kim Dong-yeon are positive signs.

- If many people choose the People Power Party in this election, what do you think was the biggest factor? Is it high expectations for regime stability?

▲ During the previous Democratic Party Moon Jae-in administration, people's lives did not improve at all, and the agendas the Democratic Party championed, such as fairness, freedom, and human rights, actually regressed. This was a serious breach of trust toward the Democratic Party and a grave betrayal that hindered Korea's development. Therefore, the people brought about a regime change after five years to restore fairness and common sense. However, the Democratic Party, without reflection and indifferent to people's livelihoods, has been obstructing by forcibly passing the Geomsu Wanbak law and sabotaging confirmation hearings with an 'Amuttta (asking nothing, questioning nothing)' attitude. I think the people are giving stronger support to the new government so it can work properly.

Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, is receiving cheers from fellow lawmakers as he walks up to the podium to make a personal statement before the vote on his disciplinary proposal at the plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 20th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

- Having served as mayor of Ulsan, what kind of cooperation can the party provide to ensure successful local administration after the election?

▲ Although the Democratic Party monopolized local governments for the past four years, regional development did not progress, local autonomy became hollowed out, and local politics became subordinate to central politics. For example, the Seoul Metropolitan Council spent the past year neglecting Seoul's development plans and focused only on obstructing Mayor Oh Se-hoon, and Gyeonggi Province wasted manpower and budget supporting then-Governor Lee Jae-myung's presidential campaign, sacrificing the future of Gyeonggi residents. Other local political situations were not much different. Therefore, the People Power Party will ensure independent local administration considering local characteristics through laws and systems and will carefully manage robust central government financial support to ensure smooth progress of major regional projects.

- What kind of party will the People Power Party become?

▲ I think it should become a 'ruling party created by the people.' Unlike in the past, today's election and political culture is led by the people. Nevertheless, political parties in Korea are still dominated by a few vested interests or stuck in old paradigms. Therefore, we must increase direct participation of the people and become a newer and more developed party. The fact that ordinary neighbors climbed onto the People Power Party campaign vehicles and represented the people's voices, receiving applause in the recent by-elections and presidential election, is a good example that the political world should remember. However, if we limit ourselves to the voices of our supporters, it is a path to ruin. Remembering the principle of thesis-antithesis-synthesis, we will do our best to become a party that embraces diverse voices of the people and creates productive and rational future alternatives.