Park Sung-min "Difficult to Maintain Kim Ki-hyun System Until General Election"

Political Consulting CEO Min, SBS Interview
"Kim Gi-hyeon, Retire from Politics if Losing General Election?"
"Losing and Stepping Down Is Meaningless"

Park Sung-min, CEO of Political Consulting Min, predicted that it would be difficult for the Kim Ki-hyun leadership to be maintained until the general election in April next year, following the People Power Party's crushing defeat in the by-election for the mayor of Gangseo District, Seoul.

On the 16th, Park appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' and said, "Kim Ki-hyun has not been able to check the Presidential Office at all, and it seemed the same during the nomination process for the (Gangseo District mayor by-election)." He added, "There is a perception that nothing will change much under Kim's leadership, so if it continues as is, public sentiment will decide. If the approval ratings for the president and the party continue to worsen, it will be impossible to hold on."

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 16th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Regarding the decision at the previous day's People Power Party parliamentary meeting to maintain Kim's leadership while preparing reform measures, he said, "I do not see it as a vote of confidence in Kim Ki-hyun." He predicted, "If they try to make changes unprepared and it causes problems again, they won't be able to change it. So, for now, it will continue like this until the end of the year, and around the end of the year or early next year, there is a possibility of transitioning to a provisional party committee or founding a new party."

On Kim's statement that he would retire from politics if defeated in next year's general election, Park criticized, "He says to step down to win the election, but he says he will step down if he loses."

Park said, "It may sound harsh, but whether Kim continues in politics or retires is not a concern for the ruling party's supporters," adding, "It was the same with Hwang Kyo-ahn. Back then, people said, 'Please step down because we will lose under Hwang Kyo-ahn's leadership.' He said he would step down if he lost, and he actually stepped down after losing, but stepping down after losing is meaningless, isn't it?"

In response to the criticism that "Is it a matter for the party leader to step down just because they lost one by-election?" he emphasized, "A by-election is a by-election, but this one was held six months before the general election."

He continued, saying Kim should step down at this timing, "If he vacates the position for the party's change, he will be evaluated as having acted politically for the greater good, and he will be able to plan for the general election and beyond. If he is pushed out around November or December, it will be difficult to restart his political career, and I wonder if he will even be able to receive a nomination for the general election."