Choi Jae-hyung "Kim Ki-hyun and Jang Je-won’s decision... Lee Jun-seok’s new party possibility likely reduced"

Rep. Choi Jae-hyung of People Power Party YTN Radio Interview
"Leadership Change Reflects Response to Demand for Change"

Following the 'withdrawal from candidacy declaration' by Jang Je-won, a member of the People Power Party, and Kim Ki-hyun's resignation as party leader, Choi Jae-hyung, also a member of the same party, evaluated, "It is a decision that responds to the demands of the people and a very difficult resolution."

On the 14th, Choi appeared on YTN Radio's 'News King Park Ji-hoon' and said, "After the by-election for the Gangseo District Office, I think the people gave us the answer that our party cannot remain as it is and must change," adding, "The issue is how our party should respond to that, and ultimately, the best way to show the change the people want is for the party leadership to change."

Choi Jae-hyung, a member of the People Power Party, is delivering a congratulatory speech at the '2022 Seoul Future Forum' held on the 16th at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Choi believed that Kim Ki-hyun's decision reduced the possibility of former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok founding a new party. He said, "Before Lee Jun-seok founded a new party, he demanded changes within the party, and the most important point was, so to speak, the relationship between Yongsan and the party regarding state administration and party-government relations," adding, "Kim Ki-hyun, who can be considered one of the most important pillars, and Jang Je-won showed responsibility first, and it seems that the possibility of founding a new party has decreased accordingly."

Regarding the criticism that the remaining party reform tasks depend on President Yoon Seok-youl's state administration policy, he said, "First of all, the resignation of Kim Ki-hyun and Jang Je-won or their withdrawal from candidacy starts from acknowledging that there were some problems with the vertical party-government relationship and the policy direction in state administration," adding, "It is now time to show changes in Yongsan as well."

Regarding the mention of Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon as the emergency committee chairman, he said, "Minister Han Dong-hoon is a good figure and has strong opposition capabilities," but added, "Although our party supporters might like the current Minister of Justice becoming the emergency committee chairman immediately, we need to carefully consider how centrists and others will perceive this."

About Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, he said, "Looking at what Minister Won has shown so far, he seems to be very in sync with the president," adding, "Whether he can maintain a tense relationship between the party and government or offer critical feedback to Yongsan is something we need to consider further."

Regarding People Power Party member Ha Tae-kyung's intention to run in his constituency, Jongno District in Seoul, he said, "I am not yet certain whether Representative Ha intends to go all the way to the primary election."

Choi said, "In fact, just the fact that he is coming out is quite unexpected," adding, "He is running in a difficult district where an incumbent lawmaker exists, and for example, he cannot explain reasons such as 'Choi Jae-hyung will definitely lose in Jongno, so I have no choice but to run.' Considering this, it seems that after showing the intention to run, the party might consider adjusting his candidacy to another district during the nomination process."