Kim Jaewon: "High Voter Turnout Due to Mobile... Possibility of Ending in First Round"

Kim Jae-won, a candidate for the Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, interpreted the historically high voter turnout in this party convention's mobile voting as "due to the convenience of mobile voting."

On the 6th, Kim said on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' "I expected the turnout to be high because mobile voting has been conducted several times."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

During the mobile voting for the People Power Party convention held over the past weekend, the turnout reached 47.51%, marking an all-time high. Including the ARS voting conducted on the 6th and 7th, the final turnout is expected to easily surpass 50%.

Kim interpreted that party members flocked to mobile voting as a result of learning from multiple mobile voting experiences. He said, "Compared to past votes, the convenience for voters has been improved, so the increasing turnout is a realistic trend," adding, "Although it is said that younger generations are good at mobile voting, in fact, even the elderly have learned the mobile voting method quite well."

Each campaign is interpreting the high turnout in a way favorable to themselves. However, Kim said, "Overall, the turnout is rising, but I think this is due to the convenience of mobile voting," and added, "I do not strongly agree with the view that a higher turnout necessarily benefits a particular candidate or creates new trends."

There is also a forecast that as turnout increases, the number of votes needed to secure a 'first-round majority' will also rise, potentially leading to a runoff election. Regarding this, Kim said, "I do not think a higher turnout directly results in having to go to a runoff," adding, "Although the possibility of a runoff is not zero, the atmosphere on the ground suggests that it is more likely to end in the first round."

Regarding Ahn Cheol-soo's recent intensified attacks on the Yongsan Presidential Office, Kim said, "Initially, Ahn shared the same stance as President Yoon Seok-youl, but Cheon Ha-ram has almost completely dominated one faction, causing Ahn's presence to diminish," adding, "In this process, if Ahn has set a strategy to aim for a runoff and stage a dramatic comeback there, he needs to increase his presence, and currently, this is the only way."

Regarding the 'Lee Jun-seok faction' members, Kim evaluated that "it will be difficult for them to enter the winning zone." He also viewed the political future of former leader Lee Jun-seok, who led them, as uncertain. He pointed out, "Lee should also take some time to reflect on himself," adding, "If he always thinks only he is right and considers attacking everyone else related to him as his sole political activity, is that really the essence of politics?"