[Yeouido Interview] Kim Seong-won "Adding Innovation to Big Data"

Interview with Kim Seong-won, New Director of Yeouido Institute
"A Policy Research Institute That Reflects the People's Voice for General Election Victory"
Promotion of Amendments to High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Act and Distribution Industry Development Act

"We plan to add innovation to big data. We will comprehensively evaluate the voices of the people coming from various fields such as the press, social network services (SNS), and internet communities."

Kim Seong-won, a member of the People Power Party (PPP) and head of the Yeouido Research Institute, recently stated this as his inaugural message in an interview with Asia Economy. Kim was appointed as the new head of the Yeouido Research Institute, joining the second-term leadership under PPP leader Kim Ki-hyun. This came shortly after the ruling party suffered a crushing defeat in the by-election for the mayor of Gangseo District, Seoul, about six months before next year's general election.

Kim said, "At this critical moment, about 180 days before the 22nd National Assembly election, I feel a heavier responsibility than ever as I take on the role of head of the Yeouido Research Institute, which must be at the forefront of the general election." He added, "I have been deeply reflecting on why I was appointed as the head of the institute at this time and how I can leave the institute smiling on April 10 next year."

Established in 1995, the Yeouido Research Institute is a think tank that supports the party's policy development through various research activities and public opinion surveys. In particular, it has contributed to analyzing election trends and formulating the party's election strategies through election opinion polls. The institute's surveys, reported confidentially to the leadership, have been highly accurate and influential.

Kim Sung-won, Director of Yeouido Institute. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

However, during the 2020 21st general election, while the Democratic Party of Korea utilized big data analysis of floating populations in electoral districts for their campaign strategies, the People Power Party relied on traditional methods, resulting in consecutive defeats in metropolitan area elections.

Because of this, Kim identified increasing the 'speed' of the Yeouido Research Institute as a key task. He emphasized that the institute must go beyond merely keeping pace with the speed of societal changes and public opinion trends. He even used the term 'forecast' rather than just 'understanding.' He said, "Society is changing rapidly. Now, the institute must not only catch up with the speed of the people but also predict and accurately analyze their demands and reactions to incorporate them into policies." Adding innovation to big data is a way to increase the institute's speed.

Below is a Q&A with Kim Seong-won.

Q. Please explain precisely what you mean by adding innovation to big data.

A. We now live in a platform era where we communicate interactively with the people and reflect their voices and policy needs in real time. We plan to actively utilize meta-analysis that comprehensively analyzes the voices of the people collected through big data, categorized by gender, region, age, and other factors. We will create a multidimensional Yeouido Research Institute through organic cooperation with academia, the media, and statistical institutions.

Q. There are also claims that the accuracy of Yeouido Research Institute's opinion polls has declined compared to its past reputation.

A. The Yeouido Research Institute is not a polling company. Opinion polls are only a part of the institute's policy and research functions. The results of the institute's surveys are never publicly disclosed, so discussing their accuracy is nonsense. One thing is clear: the accuracy of the institute's opinion polls has never declined. I will listen carefully to the voices of the people and create a research institute that studies and develops livelihood policies that can be tangibly felt in the field. I will transform the institute into a powerful policy research center that communicates the people's voices and leads the party to victory in the general election. Through innovation at the institute, we will make the People Power Party a 'life-oriented livelihood policy party' that proactively addresses the people's needs. I will faithfully perform my role to help the party regain the people's trust as a policy-oriented party.

Q. With the recent defeat in the Gangseo District mayoral by-election and the emerging metropolitan area crisis theory, what must the People Power Party do to win in the metropolitan area in the upcoming general election?

A. We must listen more closely to each concerned citizen and undergo thorough reform to win the people's hearts and succeed in the metropolitan area. Especially since the opposition party, which has secured many metropolitan seats in the last two general elections, has stronger regional organizational power than the ruling party, without bold innovation that meets the people's expectations, the ruling party is likely to struggle in the metropolitan area. I believe the answer lies in Innovation Committee Chair In Yo-han's remark that 'everything except my wife and children must be changed.' I promise to focus solely on the people and undertake painful reforms.

Q. You also serve as the secretary of the National Assembly's Industry, Trade and Energy Committee. What bill are you focusing on most?

A. To turn the challenge of carbon neutrality into a new opportunity for future growth engines, the High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Act must be passed as soon as possible. Although this law had not been discussed until now, since my appointment as the ruling party's secretary and chair of the Industrial Patent Bill Review Subcommittee in June, I have led in-depth discussions between the ruling and opposition parties, resolving many contentious issues.

We are also pushing for amendments to the Distribution Industry Development Act to improve the overall system in line with the rapidly changing distribution industry environment. During this year's audit, I analyzed the issue of online delivery regulations for large supermarkets in the Ministry of Industry audit and made recommendations to enhance consumer benefits and create jobs. I will do my best during the remaining session to secure energy security through nuclear power normalization and enable the public to feel changes through consumer-friendly legislation.

Q. The opposition party is protesting the government's R&D budget cuts, calling them 'indiscriminate reductions.'

A. It is the government's and ruling party's natural duty to manage public funds so they do not become blind money. At the same time, we must ensure that well-intentioned researchers conducting conscientious research for national development are not harmed. We must root out the so-called research fund cartel, which habitually divides research funds. Even looking at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' R&D budget, it nearly doubled during the Moon Jae-in administration. Due to indiscriminate largesse, excessive research subsidies were given to many small and medium enterprises, and many research projects failed to yield results due to misuse of funds or companies shutting down midway. Moreover, proper recovery of funds has not been achieved. Going forward, through strict management, we must foster a healthy R&D ecosystem and ensure that well-intentioned researchers can conduct their work in a healthy environment.