[Politics That Day] Kim Jae-won's 'Cruel Nomination Saga' Only Happens During General Elections

Elected as Top-Ranked Supreme Council Member but Faces Political Hardships
One-Year Party Membership Suspension, Severe Disciplinary Action, Nomination Setback
Also Excluded from Nominations in 2016 and 2020 General Elections

Editor's Note"Politics, That Day..." is a series planning corner that looks back on Korean politics through the 'recollection of memories' related to notable scenes, events, and figures that deserve attention.

Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, is considered one of the top strategists among ruling party figures. While he may not reach the legendary status of political tacticians like Yoon Yeo-jun, Kim Jong-in, or Lee Hae-chan, politician Kim Jae-won's capabilities are formidable. The ability to analyze the big picture of elections and devise solutions is not something just anyone possesses.

An indispensable figure when discussing politician Kim Jae-won is former President Park Geun-hye. Politician Kim Jae-won is known as a member of the so-called pro-Park faction (pro-Park Geun-hye faction). During the 2007 Grand National Party presidential primary, when candidates Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye faced off head-to-head, politician Park Geun-hye was accompanied by Kim Jae-won.

Politician Kim Jae-won contributed to making Park Geun-hye president in 2012. He then rose to the position of Senior Secretary for Political Affairs in the Blue House under the Park Geun-hye administration. His experience as Senior Secretary for Political Affairs provided opportunities to communicate broadly with figures from both ruling and opposition parties.

Kim Jae-won, Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party, is attending the Ethics Committee held at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul on May 8. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The political acumen to place broad and strategic moves on the vast Go board of elections while also carefully following detailed steps was developed based on such experience. An interesting point is that politician Kim Jae-won seems unable to cut his own hair. Strictly speaking, he demonstrates sufficient ability in intra-party elections, but becomes a different person during general elections.

This is less a problem with politician Kim Jae-won himself and more that the political environment leads him to become the protagonist of the 'nomination tragedy.' Politician Kim Jae-won's career is impressive. He is a three-term National Assembly member and currently serves as a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party.

The problem is that his last experience with nomination for a general election dates back to 2012. Politician Kim Jae-won had no nomination ties in the 20th general election in 2016 or the 21st general election in 2020. Politicians who repeatedly fail to secure nominations are usually those whose prime has passed. However, it is difficult to say that about politician Kim Jae-won.

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, is whispering to Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member, at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on March 13. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Politician Kim Jae-won served as Senior Secretary for Political Affairs in the Blue House in 2016, chaired the Liberty Korea Party's Gyeongbuk Provincial Party Committee in 2017, and was the Policy Committee Chairperson of the Liberty Korea Party in 2019. He was elected as a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party in both 2021 and 2023.

At the party convention on March 8, he was elected as the top Supreme Council member. At a time just over a year before the 22nd general election on April 10 next year, being elected as the top Supreme Council member at the ruling party's convention is significant. One might expect the nomination tragedy that plagued him to end, but the situation this time is also serious.

On the 10th, the People Power Party's Central Ethics Committee decided on a severe disciplinary action of 'one-year suspension of party membership rights' against Supreme Council member Kim Jae-won. Recent controversies, including remarks related to Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, have brought yet another disaster to his political career.

A one-year suspension of party membership rights effectively means a ban on running in the general election. The possibility of him running in next year's general election under the People Power Party banner has become slim. Politician Kim Jae-won, who was unable to participate in the major political events of the 2016 and 2020 general elections.

In the 2020 general election, he even attempted to run for nomination in Seoul Jungnang-gap, leaving his hometown of Daegu·Gyeongbuk (TK). However, he lost in the party primary, and his dream of entering Seoul was dashed. Much has happened since that painful day.

The People Power Party has regained power. It also achieved a landslide victory in the local elections. Politician Kim Jae-won himself was once again elected as a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party. But as the general election approaches, new trials have begun.

Will he watch the 2024 general election from the sidelines again? It is a point of curiosity how the nomination tragedy will conclude.