Kim Yong, a former vice president of the Institute for Democracy who is considered one of President Lee Jae-myung's closest associates, criticized Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae's remark that "the people are eternal, but power is short-lived," calling it "truly inappropriate, a major misstatement" on Tuesday.
Speaking on CBS Radio's "Park Sung-tae's News Show" that day, Kim said, "Isn't this the kind of expression that should really come from the opposition?" He criticized further: "Looking at that expression alone, I thought it was political rhetoric from People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk, but this came out of our own party leader's mouth."
Kim said, "If it was deliberate, the party leader must take responsibility himself," and added pointedly, "It makes no sense to say 'power is short-lived' while holding the position of Democratic Party leader."
Regarding Jung posting a message on the bulletin board of "Ddanzi Ilbo," an online community where his fandom gathers, Kim said, "I think it would have been appropriate for him, as the leader of the ruling party, to deliver a message that could overcome post-election confusion through official channels, rather than through an online post."
On the interpretation that President Lee has recently been sending a "no-run" message aimed at Jung, Kim said, "It can certainly be interpreted that way," while adding, "I would prefer that we just look at the phenomenon as it is." On the possibility of Jung seeking re-election as party leader, he said, "Judging by his current moves, he is acting as if he will run in the party convention," and added, "He can do it for his own next steps, but shouldn't there be preliminary measures to win the people's hearts before that?" He continued, "What matters is not whether (Jung) resigns, but that a genuine apology must come first."
Kim highlighted Jung's responsibility for the local election results. "I clearly see the local election as a defeat," Kim said, criticizing, "Because Jung fell very short, his responsibility is enormous." He explained, "In local governments, we won 115 and the People Power Party won 95, almost no difference. It is no exaggeration to call it a total defeat," adding, "The president feels this part painfully, but isn't our party failing to read it properly?" He named "the absence of strategy" as the biggest cause of the election defeat.
Regarding Jung's signature pledge of a "one member, one vote" system, Kim said, "I agree with it in terms of the direction of a democratic party," while pointing out, "But in various processes, it is not easy for the one member, one vote system to be fair to everyone. In the local election, there were some shortcomings in that regard." He emphasized institutional improvement, saying, "We must keep the one member, one vote system alive while supplementing and improving it."
Regarding granting the power to withdraw prosecution under the special counsel law on the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's fabricated indictments, which remains controversial amid opposition backlash, Kim said, "If the prosecution committed wrongdoing, measures that hold them accountable and return things to square one should naturally be included," adding, "Personally, I think it is right for such content to be included in the bill."
As for whether he himself would run in the supreme council member election, Kim said, "I haven't made a final decision, but I plan to decide quickly."
