Photo Controversy and 'Yunsim' Rift... Is Kim Ki-hyun's Dominance Shaking?

Kim Ki-hyun Faces Backlash Over 'Showing Off Friendship' Photo
Jang Talks with Ahn's Close Aide... Is a Rift Forming in the 'Kim-Jang Alliance'?

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] The momentum of Representative Kim Ki-hyun, who was considered a leading candidate for the People Power Party leadership with the full support of the pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) faction, is wavering.

He is facing a crisis as he has come under fire over the so-called Kim Yeon-kyung and Nam Jin photo controversy, and there are even signs of a possible rift in the 'Kimjang Alliance' (Kim Ki-hyun?Jang Je-won alliance). Representative Kim's approval ratings are also declining; he once led the race for the next party leader but was overtaken by Representative Ahn Cheol-soo.

Representative Kim's photo controversy has been a hot topic day after day. On the 27th, he posted photos on his SNS showing himself with singer Nam Jin and volleyball player Kim Yeon-kyung, flaunting his friendship with them, which became a sensation. However, Nam Jin and Kim Yeon-kyung's sides revealed that they have no acquaintance with Representative Kim, and the bouquet he received was not prepared by them, sparking a controversy over false friendship.

On the 27th, Kim Ki-hyun, a People Power Party leadership candidate, posted a photo on his Facebook with female volleyball player Kim Yeon-koung and singer Nam Jin, which sparked controversy. Photo by Kim's Facebook capture.

Other leadership candidates sharply criticized this as 'false promotion.' On the 31st of last month, Representative Yoon Sang-hyun posted a photo on his Facebook showing a love shot with Nam Jin and pointed out, "No matter how urgent the approval ratings are, this kind of outdated promotion actually lowers the party's dignity and can negatively affect the upcoming general election."

Representative Ahn Cheol-soo also refrained from commenting much on the controversy during CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 1st but said, "It is something that needs to be actively clarified regarding the facts." He added, "If such controversies arise during the general election process, our policy issues will become useless, and candidates will be overshadowed," emphasizing, "Such incidents should not happen during the election period."

Moreover, even the 'Yoon-sim' (Yoon's support), which made Representative Kim the leading candidate, is now under suspicion. Former Representative Kim Young-woo, the election campaign chairman for Ahn Cheol-soo's primary campaign, revealed on the 1st that he had a phone call with Representative Jang Je-won, a key figure in the pro-Yoon faction, and said, "There were many concerns."

On YTN Radio's 'News King with Park Ji-hoon' that day, he stated, "Representative Kim Ki-hyun said things like 'Kimjang is over' and 'There is no Kimjang (Kim Ki-hyun?Jang Je-won) alliance,' so if I were Representative Jang, I would feel personally hurt."

Previously, Representative Jang greatly influenced Kim Ki-hyun's establishment as the 'Yoon-sim candidate' through the 'Kimjang Alliance.' However, during former Representative Na Kyung-won's mid-term withdrawal, voices opposing Jang (anti-Jang Je-won) emerged, and fearing a backlash, Representative Kim said, "Kimjang is out of season," attempting to erase the 'Kimjang Alliance.' In this context, the fact that aides of Representative Jang and Representative Ahn had a phone call is analyzed as a sign of a possible rift in the Kimjang Alliance.

People Power Party leadership candidate Kim Ki-hyun is speaking at a 'Yeonpotang' press conference held at a restaurant in Yeouido, Seoul on the 24th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News

Approval ratings, which once ranked first, have recently been declining. According to a public opinion poll commissioned by Asia Today to R&Search and released on the 30th (conducted January 27?28, targeting 1,030 adults nationwide aged 18 and over), Representative Ahn recorded 39.8% support among People Power Party supporters, rising to first place in suitability for the next party leader for the first time. Representative Kim came in second with 36.5%. In a poll conducted by Gallup Korea commissioned by Segye Ilbo (January 26?27, targeting 1,006 adults nationwide aged 18 and over), Representative Ahn led with 59.2% support, outpacing Representative Kim (30.5%) by 28.7 percentage points.

Meanwhile, the R&Search poll was conducted via an ARS survey using a structured questionnaire (100% wireless RDD). The response rate was 2.7%, with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. The People Power Party supporter survey had a margin of error of ±4.7 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Gallup Korea's survey was conducted via wireless telephone interviews, with a response rate of 11.7% and a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. The People Power Party supporter survey had a margin of error of ±4.9 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. For more details, please refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.