"Yoo Seung-min Cutoff Also Close"
"Suspension of 9.19 Agreement Not a Termination... Different Dimension"
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, analyzed that President Yoon Seok-yeol's invitation of Assemblyman Ahn Cheol-soo and his wife, the ruling party's next leadership candidates, to the presidential residence means "there is no candidate who monopolizes Yoon's mind (尹心, the president's intention)."
On the 5th, Ha said on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "It seems that we have somewhat grasped what Yoon's mind is."
He added, "And the message was clear: 'Whoever becomes the candidate, the president will maintain a friendly relationship. So don't be conscious of the president and play fair.'"
Within the party, the dominant analysis is that Yoon's mind is with Assemblyman Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the 'Kimjang Alliance (Kim Ki-hyun-Jang Je-won).' Kim was invited to the presidential residence twice and had meals with President Yoon. However, Ha said, "The person who went to the residence the most is Assemblyman Kwon Seong-dong, who denies that Yoon's mind is actually with the Kimjang Alliance," adding, "Kwon is running for candidacy now and has even set up an office."
He said, "There has always been talk during party conventions about Park's mind (Park Geun-hye's mind), M's mind (Lee Myung-bak's mind) during MB's era," and "It was very well done by the president to clarify this part (Yoon's mind) to avoid misunderstandings."
Na Kyung-won, vice-chair of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee and one of the major leadership candidates, is also expected to be invited to the presidential residence soon. Ha predicted Na's candidacy, saying, "This is a rule for Vice-Chair Na, so why wouldn't she run?" and "She is consistently ranked first now, and since there is no possibility of joining the cabinet in this situation, why wouldn't she run? I think missing this opportunity would be a significant political misjudgment."
Regarding former Assemblyman Yoo Seung-min, the representative of the 'non-Yoon (非尹)' faction, taking a long time to decide whether to run, Ha said, "Among traditional party members, Yoo Seung-min has had a very long-lasting unfavorable image, and it doesn't seem easy to change that in a short time, so he must have many concerns," adding, "The cutoff to select the top four candidates could be very tight."
On President Yoon mentioning the 'suspension of the effectiveness of the September 19 Agreement,' Ha explained, "It is not a cancellation. Cancellation and suspension of effectiveness are fundamentally different," and "Suspension of effectiveness is a way to pressure North Korea to better adhere to the September 19 Agreement," further noting that the agreement itself includes a clause on suspension of effectiveness.
Ha said, "It should not be canceled. After all, North Korea is also a country in the international community," adding, "Especially since South Korea keeps suggesting canceling agreements with Japan as well, if it cancels agreements with both Japan and North Korea, South Korea would become a country that breaks promises with any country, a rogue state."
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