Choi Jae-sung: "The Movement Faction Referee Theory Is a Wrong General Election Strategy"

"Im Jong-seok vs Yoon Hee-sook? Forced Matchup"
"Trying to Catch Activists Highlights Yoon Government's Economic Failures"

Ahead of the April 10 general election, as the People Power Party has begun to actively promote the 'movement faction judgment theory,' former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Choi Jae-sung downplayed it, saying it was "strategically miscalculated."

On the 31st, Choi appeared on KBS Radio's 'Jeonggyeok Sisa' and said, "The opposition party naturally criticizes and checks the ruling party. The idea of judging the opposition party has never worked in general elections," adding, "Among the opposition, calling for the liquidation of the movement faction is a very inappropriate strategy for the general election."

Im Jong-seok, former Chief of Staff at the Blue House (left), Yoon Hee-sook, former member of the People Power Party.

He continued, "Since President Yoon Seok-yeol's remarks revived the ideological war, the issue has been narrowed down to whether one is part of the movement faction or not, thus reintroducing ideological controversy," and said, "We have to hold a major election like the general election, but the movement faction judgment theory is not a strategic issue that runs through the entire election."

Choi also pointed out that it is difficult to fit the 'movement faction liquidation theory' into the current general election matchups. Former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong has declared his candidacy in Incheon Gyeyang-eul, the constituency of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Kim Kyung-yul, a member of the People Power Party's emergency committee, will run in Seoul Mapo-eul, the constituency of Jeong Cheong-rae, a senior member of the Democratic Party. Former Blue House Chief of Staff Lim Jong-seok is preparing to run in Seoul Jung-gu and Seongdong-gap, where former People Power Party lawmaker and economic expert Yoon Hee-sook has also declared her candidacy.

Regarding this, Choi said, "It feels forced," and added, "The matchups don't look plausible." For example, if asked, "Kim Kyung-yul is from the movement faction, so who is the real one when he faces Jeong Cheong-rae?" people might think, "Both sides are targets for liquidation."

He also pointed out that putting former lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook up as a direct opponent to former Chief of Staff Lim Jong-seok amid difficult economic conditions is inappropriate. He said, "People won't think, 'Yoon Hee-sook is an economic expert and part of the ruling power's economic team, so she's doing well. Therefore, the movement faction is no good.'" He explained, "It could be perceived as, 'You (the government and ruling party) are emphasizing the struggling economy to catch the movement faction.'

Regarding the so-called 'decoupling' phenomenon, where only Emergency Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon gains positive public opinion while President Yoon and the People Power Party's approval ratings stagnate, Choi analyzed, "The conflict with the president has rather increased his personal support and favorability." He added that this is essentially a score of expectations rather than an evaluation of responsibility. However, he said, "It won't translate into party support," explaining, "Some citizens who have concerns about the president have shifted somewhat toward increasing Chairman Han Dong-hoon's favorability."