Kim Kyung-jin: "Yoon Should 'Eupcham Masok' Lee Jong-seop and Hwang Sang-mu"

Kim Kyung-jin, a former lawmaker who ran as the People Power Party candidate in the Dongdaemun district of Seoul, urged the presidential office to make a decisive move regarding the controversies surrounding Ambassador to Australia Lee Jong-seop and Presidential Office Senior Secretary for Civil Society Hwang Sang-moo, saying, “When President Yoon Seok-yeol makes a painful but necessary decision, all other candidates will have a chance to survive.”

Kim Kyung-jin, People Power Party candidate for Dongdaemun, Seoul.
[Image source=Campaign team of candidate Kim]

Kim, a former chief prosecutor and a member of the 20th National Assembly, appeared on CBS Radio’s “Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show” on the 19th and said, “The local public sentiment has been somewhat unfavorable lately,” adding, “I expressed it as ‘somewhat unfavorable’ because I was worried that our side might lose morale if I said it was bad, but it is actually bad.”

He continued, “Over the weekend, I greeted people along the banks of Jungnangcheon Stream, and supporters anxiously said, ‘Bring Lee Jong-seop back quickly,’ ‘Bring him back and keep him on standby,’ while critics said things like, ‘President Yoon claimed to establish justice in Korea and clearly distinguish right from wrong through investigations, so what is going on now?’”

Regarding the presidential office’s statement that “it is highly inappropriate for the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) to summon Ambassador Lee or for him to remain on standby in the country without being summoned,” Kim agreed, saying, “Logically, that is correct,” but warned, “During the election period, the attitude and demeanor shown by the ruling party, President Yoon, and his aides to the public could be perceived not as humility but as arrogance.”

On the controversy surrounding Senior Secretary Hwang, he said, “I find it quite inappropriate. I share the same line of thought as most candidates in the metropolitan area,” and pointed out, “If Senior Secretary Hwang remains in his position and public sentiment worsens, leading to a crushing defeat in the metropolitan elections, can President Yoon fulfill the historic responsibilities he must undertake?”