[Hot Interview] Kim Jong-hyuk, Supreme Council Member of the Ruling Party, "We Will Build a Horizontal Party-Government Relationship to Create a Winning Party"

"Handonghun Wins Overwhelming 63%... Demand for Innovation"
"Through Representative Han, Desire for Change and Reform"

Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the People Power Party, appointed Kim Jong-hyuk, a former head of the organization department and an out-of-office pro-Han faction figure, as a nominated Supreme Council member on the 5th. With this, Han filled five out of the nine Supreme Council members with pro-Han faction or personally appointed figures. Kim emphasized in a phone interview with Asia Economy that "the task given to the current leadership is to make the People Power Party a winning party through change, reform, and a horizontal party-government relationship." Kim, a former editor-in-chief of JoongAng Ilbo, was appointed as head of the organization department when Han was the emergency committee chairman. He also serves as the chairman of the Out-of-Office Party Branch Chairmen Council, representing out-of-office party officials of the People Power Party.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

You were nominated as a Supreme Council member. What are your aspirations?

Personal aspirations are not the important thing. The fact that the people and party members overwhelmingly supported Leader Han with 63% each means they demanded that the People Power Party change and innovate differently from the past. So this is not a personal issue but a challenge faced by the entire 'Han Dong-hoon leadership.' We must regain the people's love through change and reform, normalize the party-government relationship from a vertical to a horizontal one, and build a strong party. Our task is to create a party that surpasses the Democratic Party of Korea.

Did you expect to be nominated as a Supreme Council member?

It is not appropriate to talk about my personnel matters. How could I have predicted it? The appointing authority (Leader Han) can change their mind even after thinking about it in advance. Anyway, I learned today through the announcement that 'now I have been appointed.'

Why do you think Leader Han nominated you as a Supreme Council member?

It seems Leader Han has several principles for personnel appointments. He does not consider connections at all but focuses on freshness, reformist tendencies, and ability. I am not saying I fully meet those criteria, but since the party wants change and reform and I have continuously discussed these matters with Leader Han, I think our opinions aligned in that regard.

What is your view on the appointment of the Yeouido Research Institute director?

Hong Young-rim, the director of the Yeouido Research Institute, has already resigned. In the past, such procedures were unnecessary because all party officials were assumed to have submitted their resignations when the leader changed and only worked until their successors arrived. If Leader Han does not appoint a successor, it means Hong has been reaffirmed, and if someone else is appointed, it means she steps down. It can be seen that Leader Han is deliberating over several figures, including Director Hong.