– Friendly dinner not called by Han Dong-hoon but arranged by lawmakers
– ‘Kim Kun-hee Black Hole’ sucking all issues since government started
– Kim should stop exerting undue influence through texts and calls
– Asking what’s wrong? Like saying there’s no wind when a branch sways
– Concern about worsening public opinion, not threatening dissenting votes
– Meetings between party leaders can cause misunderstandings when spoken about afterwards
[YTN Radio News Fighting with Bae Seung-hee],
Broadcast: FM 94.5 (07:15~09:00),
Broadcast Date and Time: October 23, 2024 (Wednesday),
Host: Attorney Bae Seung-hee,
Guest: Kim Jong-hyuk, Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party
*The text below may differ from the actual broadcast, so refer to the broadcast for more precise content.
[Please attribute quotes to YTN Radio interview content.]
[Watch related video]
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Host Bae Seung-hee: This is News Fighting with Bae Seung-hee. We’re beginning the third part. There’s talk of escalating tensions in party-government relations following the meeting between President Yoon and Representative Han Dong-hoon. Concerns within the People Power Party suggest that revising the special probe law concerning Kim Kun-hee may result in more dissenting votes. We’re joined by Kim Jong-hyuk, a close aide and messenger for Representative Han Dong-hoon. Are you there?
Kim Jong-hyuk (People Power Party Supreme Council Member): Hello, anchor.
Host: Are you doing well? Is the situation within the People Power Party good or bad?
Kim: It’s not just about our party’s situation. We sincerely apologize to the public, and to our party members, for the appearance of conflicts in party-government relations. We hope to overcome this quickly so we can address various livelihood issues and diplomatic security crises.
Host: Yes, but it seems the conflicts are deepening. Representative Han Dong-hoon canceled his schedule yesterday morning and gathered his close members for a dinner in the evening. How should we interpret this?
Kim: The gathering last night wasn’t called by Representative Han. Some lawmakers wanted to hear what the meeting in Yongsan was about and whether they were being neglected too much. So, they contacted people and decided to gather. When they contacted Representative Han, he agreed, saying he would explain if they were curious. It was during the national audit period, so some were out of town. I joined later, and about 20 people were there. The representative explained the discussions with the president, which were already reported by the media throughout the day.
Host: They wanted to hear directly. Today, Representative Han Dong-hoon is calling an expanded meeting of party officers. Will he speak about similar topics?
Kim: The expanded meeting was scheduled long ago, as it occurs quarterly. It’s unrelated to recent events with the president. It’s just for general face-to-face discussions.
Host: Does Representative Han oppose the president then?
Kim: No, it’s not about opposing the president. The evening and expanded meeting were unrelated to conflicts. Representative Han was responding to lawmakers’ requests to discuss matters, which was reported by the press.
Host: Was there anything at the meeting last night that wasn’t disclosed to the media?
Kim: I arrived late due to prior commitments, but I confirmed that the initial discussions were about what the media reported.
Host: It seems Representative Han aims to resolve issues head-on regarding Kim Kun-hee. What does this mean?
Kim: There’s a sense of crisis within our party. Kim Kun-hee’s issue has overshadowed other successes, like normalizing Korea-US and Korea-Japan relations and restoring the nuclear power ecosystem. These achievements are being absorbed by the so-called ‘Kim Kun-hee Black Hole’. If this isn’t resolved, similar issues will persist for the next two and a half years. We urge the president to address these concerns.
Host: President Yoon said Kim Kun-hee is already holding back and will continue to do so. Do you think Kim Kun-hee is going to restrain her actions, accepting Representative Han’s position?
Kim: The issue isn’t whether it’s accepted, but how the public perceives it. Kim Kun-hee previously promised to focus solely on supporting her husband. Yet, her activities continue to draw attention and concern. For example, her interactions with officials in unaffiliated roles have made people uneasy. These matters need resolution.
Host: Could Kim Kun-hee still independently engage in official events, whereas accompanying the president wouldn’t be criticized?
Kim: No one would criticize her accompanying the president on official visits. However, rumors that Kim exerts undue influence through personal connections and discussions indicate a need for resolution.
Host: These allegations were about past actions, not ongoing ones, correct?
Kim: We can’t be sure of her current activities. How could we have known about her past actions? It’s only now coming out.
Host: Representative Han mentioned the ‘Han Nam-dong Line’, calling for a renewal. Does this suggest President Yoon isn’t rejecting the idea?
Kim: Hopefully, the president will make decisive actions. Ignoring issues while claiming nothing is wrong isn’t right. The mentioned aides have long been suspected of wielding influence, which needs addressing.
Host: With regard to the special probe law concerning Kim Kun-hee, Representative Han expressed concern about the worsening public sentiment. The presidential office sees it as a threat of dissenting votes. What’s your view?
Kim: It’s a realistic statement. The proposed special probe law by the Democratic Party is unreasonable. It improperly assigns investigative authority and could unjustly target our party. Given past dissenting votes, the potential for future issues if public opinion worsens is concerning.
Host: After meeting Representative Han, President Yoon dined with Floor Leader Chu Kyung-ho. The presidential office said it was a usual occurrence, but there are claims Representative Han was upset.
Kim: The dinner seemed odd. If it was typical, why reschedule a meeting with the president for it? It’s understandable it raised questions.
Host: The presidential office was reportedly displeased with Representative Han agreeing to a meeting suggested by Lee Jae-myung before his meeting with President Yoon. Could this be related?
Kim: That’s a misconception. Lee’s suggestion seemed intended to divide the ruling party. Promptly agreeing to the meeting was to avoid misunderstandings after the fact.
Host: Who did Representative Han consult?
Kim: He consulted those around him. It wasn’t to pressure the presidential office.
Host: Was this the leadership’s stance?
Kim: It’s not clear who he specifically consulted, but it wasn’t at the Supreme Council.
Host: Thank you for the interview during your busy schedule.
Kim: Thank you.
Host: That was Kim Jong-hyuk, Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party. Thank you.