Kim Jongin: "No Hope for People Power Party with Jeon Hangil Talking Unity... Kim Moonsoo Will Be Party Leader"

"Structure Makes It Impossible for Ahn Cheolsoo or Cho Kyungtae to Win"
Kim Moonsoo Expected as Next People Power Party Leader

Kim Jongin, former Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, criticized the party by saying, "There is absolutely no hope for the long term." On July 28, Kim appeared on SBS Radio's "Kim Taehyun's Political Show" and remarked, "The People Power Party is now talking about unity and integration by recruiting someone named Jeon Hangil. If there were enough competent people in the party, would someone like Jeon Hangil come in and take control? That party has no hope anymore," he sharply criticized.

Kim Jongin, former emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

Kim further stated, "After losing the presidential election, the party should have made a cold, rational assessment of why they lost, but instead, they only talk about reforming the party without any real evaluation. As a result, no actual reform is being carried out," and added, "It appears that the People Power Party has no real intention or ideas for reform, so the general public cannot increase their support for the party." He continued, "Isn't the person who lost the presidential election running for party leader again?" Nevertheless, he predicted that Kim Moonsoo, former Minister of Employment and Labor, is the most likely candidate to become the next party leader of the People Power Party.

Kim commented, "Since Kim ran as a candidate in the last presidential election, I think he is in the most advantageous position in the party leadership race," and added, "But how will that person reform the party? The factions that supported martial law and those who opposed impeachment are now dominating most of the People Power Party."

Song Eonseok, Emergency Committee Chairman and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the floor countermeasure meeting held at the National Assembly on the 29th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

He continued, "If candidates like Ahn Cheolsoo or Cho Kyungtae became party leader, there might be a chance for innovation, but with the current divisions, it is almost impossible for them to be elected," and added, "Given the current structure of the People Power Party, it will be extremely difficult for those individuals to bring about any real change with their capabilities."

On the Movement to Dissolve the People Power Party: "There Will Be a Major Backlash"

Regarding the resolution led by Park Chan-dae of the Democratic Party and others from the ruling party, urging the expulsion of 45 People Power Party lawmakers, as well as Representative Jung Chungrae's proposal to amend the Constitutional Court Act to allow for the dissolution of the People Power Party as an unconstitutional party, Kim commented, "In a democratic country, for the ruling party to try to dissolve the main opposition party just because it has some power is an extremely irrational idea," and predicted, "It will be difficult to actually implement, but it will inevitably face a major backlash."

Park Chandae, the Democratic Party leader candidate, announced on the 25th at the National Assembly Communication Office the plan to propose a resolution urging the expulsion of 45 People Power Party lawmakers who attempted to block the execution of the arrest warrant for former President Yoon Seokyeol. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Previously, Kim had evaluated the initial actions of the Lee Jaemyung administration by saying, "President Lee Jaemyung is performing his presidential duties relatively smoothly." He added, "Of the two ministers whose nominations were most problematic in the cabinet appointments, one had their nomination withdrawn and the other resigned voluntarily, so the issue has been somewhat resolved," and further commented, "I think it is a positive sign that President Lee has appointed almost all current lawmakers as ministers, except in highly specialized fields."