Reform New Party Appoints Kim Jong-in as Public Relations Committee Chair... "An Outstanding Political Talent"

Political Mentor of Representative Lee Jun-seok
Likely to Accelerate Talent Discovery and Nomination Process

The Reform New Party has recruited former People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in as the Chairperson of the Nomination Management Committee, who will lead the screening of the party's general election candidates.

On the same day, Representative Lee Jun-seok said at the Supreme Council meeting, "The Reform New Party will appoint the Chairperson of the Nomination Committee for the 22nd National Assembly election," adding, "Although it is somewhat later than the scheduled time, we have brought in Chairman Kim Jong-in, who is more influential and politically capable than any other party." He also added, "We will promptly undertake the nomination work to discover excellent talents centered around Chairman Kim Jong-in and present them to the public."

Chairman Kim drafted the economic democratization policy in the 18th presidential election in 2012, leading to President Park Geun-hye's election. He served as the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea in 2016 and led the People Power Party to victory as Emergency Response Committee Chairman in the 2021 by-elections. Representative Lee and Chairman Kim first connected in the Saenuri Party (now People Power Party) in 2012. Since then, they have maintained a relationship with Kim as Lee's political mentor and teacher. Previously, during the third-party integration process, Kim also played a bridging role between Geum Tae-seop, Supreme Council member of the Reform New Party, and Representative Lee.

Former Chairman Kim Jong-in Giving a Speech
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Han Jong-chan = Former Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, Kim Jong-in, is delivering a congratulatory speech at the Reform New Party Central Party Founding Convention held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Seoul on the afternoon of the 20th. 2024.1.20
saba@yna.co.kr
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The reason the Reform New Party appointed Chairman Kim is that they judged him to be the right person with the charisma to lead the party's nomination work and the role of kingmaker for election victory. Initially, the appointment of the Nomination Committee Chairperson was planned for the 19th, but it was delayed due to the breakdown of the merger with the New Future Party. Kim Jong-min, leader of the New Future Party, claimed upon leaving the party that "a plan was made to erase Lee Nak-yeon in order to grant nomination rights to Kim Jong-in," which influenced the delay.

The Reform New Party has been making efforts to recruit Chairman Kim. Although Chairman Kim previously stated that he had no intention of taking on the Nomination Committee Chairperson role, it is interpreted that he accepted the position after the New Future Party's departure.