Jang Je-won's Forum Features Kim Jong-in Lecture, Ahn Cheol-soo Congratulatory Speech... Interpretation of Lee Jun-seok's Check
Kim Jong-in Criticizes "Group Only Focused on the President" in Front of Pro-Yoon Faction
Lee: "Kim Jong-in's Lecture? He Went to Speak, Not to Support"
Former People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in is attending the party members' meeting "Korea Future Innovation Forum," led by Representative Jang Je-won, at the National Assembly on the 27th, exchanging greetings with Representative Jang./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] The power struggle within the People Power Party is becoming increasingly intense. On the 27th, the first meeting of the party's Innovation Committee, led by Representative Lee Jun-seok, and the Future Innovation Forum event hosted by Representative Jang Je-won, a prominent pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Suk-yeol) figure, were held simultaneously, signaling the start of factional movements. In particular, Representative Jang openly escalated his checks on Representative Lee by inviting former Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in, known as Lee's 'mentor,' as a speaker.
The Future Innovation Forum event, hosted by Representative Jang, was attended by about 60 People Power Party lawmakers, drawing a large crowd. Pro-Yoon figures such as Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong and Representatives Jeong Jin-seok and Yoon Han-hong were present, as well as Representative Ahn Cheol-soo, who has been clashing with Representative Lee over the appointment of Supreme Council members. Representative Ahn gave an unscheduled congratulatory speech, expanding his engagement with the pro-Yoon faction.
Particularly, former Chairman Kim Jong-in attracted attention as a guest speaker at the event. It is known that Representative Jang and former Chairman Kim have a somewhat strained relationship. During the last presidential election, Kim repeatedly criticized the so-called 'Yoon Core Group' (key associates of President Yoon Suk-yeol) and advised that President Yoon should keep distance from them. When Representative Jang was mentioned as a possible chief of staff for President Yoon, who was a presidential candidate in November last year, Kim expressed opposition.
Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, attended the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 23rd and checked the time during the meeting. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
On the other hand, former Chairman Kim is known to have a special relationship with Representative Lee, offering him political advice. On the 22nd, when Representative Lee faced disciplinary review by the party's Ethics Committee over allegations of sexual bribery, Kim said, "It will have a fatal outcome for the party," and stated that disciplining the party leader was inappropriate.
In this context, Representative Jang's invitation of former Chairman Kim as a speaker was interpreted as a strategy to check Representative Lee's Innovation Committee and expand his faction. Former Dongyang University Professor Jin Joong-kwon evaluated on CBS Radio's 'One Round Match' that "Representative Jang's invitation of former Chairman Kim was a cunning move to encircle and isolate Representative Lee."
However, former Chairman Kim, speaking at the event attended by many pro-Yoon members, once again criticized by saying, "Aren't they a group that only looks at the president?" Although he attended as a speaker at the forum, this was interpreted as a critical view of the party focusing on factional struggles rather than paying attention to people's livelihoods.
Former Chairman Kim also said, "Why was the margin in the presidential election only 0.7 percentage points? If the people's will is confirmed in an election, the party must respond to guarantee its future. If it passes without knowing what that is, that party has no hope."
Representative Lee did not make any particular remarks about Representative Jang's Future Innovation Forum but repeatedly targeted the pro-Yoon faction in media interviews. In an interview with MBN, Representative Lee said, "If the pro-Yoon faction thinks the same as President Yoon, the country will be in big trouble," and warned, "If you want to enjoy power, do it through the party convention."
Regarding former Chairman Kim's attendance as a speaker at the Future Innovation Forum, Representative Lee said, "Do you think former Chairman Kim went there not knowing what kind of meeting it was? He went to say a word to 'you all.' But (the pro-Yoon lawmakers) probably won't learn much (from it)," mocking them.
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