[Interview with Kim Jae-won of the United Future Party] "My Mission Is to Prevent Nomination Massacres in the Yeongnam Region"

The Only TK-Origin Supreme Council Member Candidate
"The Ultimate Weapon That Wins Any Fight"

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] "Whether it's a general election or any kind of battle, it means being the 'ultimate weapon' that can win."

Kim Jae-won, a candidate for the Supreme Council member in the People Power Party's March 8 party convention, introduced himself this way in an interview with Asia Economy. He likened himself to the invincible war device from the movie The Ultimate Weapon: The Bow, saying, "Whenever I went out to fight against the progressive camp or the Democratic Party camp in this country, I always pacified and won."

Kim, a former prosecutor, is a politician based in Daegu and Gyeongbuk (TK) who has served three terms. He has demonstrated his political expertise through sharp analysis and offensive skills as a panelist on various TV programs and radio shows. Especially over the past year, he was a regular on the now-defunct TBS program Kim Eo-jun's News Factory, playing a significant role in voicing conservative opinions.

Kim Jae-won, People Power Party Supreme Council Member Candidate for the Party Convention (Photo by Yonhap News)

Kim expects his 'experience' to be needed in the upcoming leadership. He served as the ruling party's floor deputy leader and Blue House political secretary during the Park Geun-hye administration, and has held various positions including party policy committee chairman and National Assembly budget committee chairman. In 2021, under former party leader Lee Jun-seok's leadership, he was elected as a Supreme Council member but later resigned.

Kim said, "The party has been in a very difficult situation, fragmented by internal strife ahead of the general election. I wondered if the party could exercise stable and unified leadership and prepare for the election once a new party leader is elected. If there is no role for me to play, I don't need to run, but if there is, I should. After seeing the lineup of candidates running for Supreme Council member, I felt it was necessary to step up and take on a role."

He added, "Even if the ruling party forms a party leader and Supreme Council, there is another important leadership figure?the president. The party must operate considering that situation and be able to harmoniously present itself with the president during the general election phase. There are many discussions about the relationship between the president and the party, but I have more experience than anyone in that regard," he emphasized.

As the only Supreme Council candidate from TK, his goal is to prevent the so-called 'Yeongnam region nomination massacre' in the general election. TK responsible party members account for 21.03%. Kim pointed out, "While TK is praised as the heart of conservatism, during the actual general elections, the logic of Yeongnam region reshuffling has repeatedly led to nomination massacres. Ultimately, this blocked the path for multi-term veterans to grow in TK, leaving the political landscape so barren that there are hardly any candidates even to run for Supreme Council member."

He continued, "This remains a deep wound for the people of TK. I believe preventing the Yeongnam region nomination massacre is my mission."

Kim proposed a 'bottom-up nomination' system. He explained, "In the past, when party branch members numbered around 500 to 1,000, the branch chairman almost controlled everything, and in a primary with a branch chairman, it was like 'I am electing myself.' But now, party branch members number between 5,000 and 10,000, and with mobile voting activated, bottom-up nominations are fully possible. I believe this is the way not only to democratize the party but also to secure victory in the general election."