Can election czar Kim Chong-in work magic on Reform Party?
Veteran politician’s role in party limited: experts
Veteran politician Kim Chong-in has returned to politics, now donning the distinct orange-colored jacket of the Reform Party.
The 84-year-old took the helm of the party’s nomination committee last week, with less than 50 days remaining until the April 10 parliamentary elections.
Kim is a demonstrated campaign expert, having played a crucial role in securing victories for former Presidents Moon Jae-in and Park Geunhye in their presidential elections. Also, he led the Democratic Party of Korea’s (DPK) landslide victory in the 2016 general elections, serving as the party’s interim leader.
This time, he chose the Reform Party, a newly formed party headed by former People Power Party (PPP) leader Lee Jun-seok, which brands itself as an alternative option for voters disappointed by bipartisan politics.
“I have long believed that, unless new political forces emerge, it is unlikely for us to bring new change to Korean politics […] I accepted the offer to help cultivate the seeds of emerging political forces,” Kim said Monday during the party’s Supreme
Council meeting.
The party has been facing challenges expanding its presence between the nation’s two major parties, reflected in its approval ratings remaining below the 5 percent range, raising speculation that the party may secure only one or two seats in the next
Assembly, according to pundits.
Public sentiment toward the party worsened following a failed merger with the Saemirae Party, which lasted for only 11 days.
However, Kim said he “does not care much” about the party’s currently low approval rating, adding that his past experiences indicate that election victory depends on the party’s ability to appeal to the public with a clear vision.
“I don’t believe that the current polling results align precisely with the public’s will,” he told reporters, saying that the Reform Party could succeed if it concentrates on highlighting what it aims to offer.
Despite the election czar’s track record, however, observers were skeptical over whether he would be able to emulate his past success with the Reform Party in the present.
Kim Hyung-joong, a professor at
Pai Chai University and former president of the Korean Association of Electoral Studies, said, “When Kim [Chong-in] previously led election campaigns for major parties, he had many cards to play. Things are much different with a small party.”
He added, “Public attention and expectations regarding the Reform Party are diminishing day by day.”
The professor said the politician’s role as the nomination committee head would be limited, citing the party’s small pool of potential candidates to nominate in the country’s total 253 constituencies.
Eom Kyeong-young, director of the Zeitgeist Institute, a private political think tank, said Kim’s appointment appears to be one of the few reasonable decisions made by Lee since he launched the party in January.
“However, I don’t think we’ll be seeing the so-called Kim Chong-in effect in the upcoming elections, given that the Reform Party’s overall performance hasn’t been so good so far,” Eom told The Korea Times.
He added that Kim’s role within the party would go beyond nominating candidates.
Recognized as an experienced politician with a reputation as a center-right figure, Kim is expected to assist Lee in avoiding missteps and contribute to the party’s rebranding, particularly in light of the failed merger with the Saemirae Party.
As a mentor to Lee, the 84-year-old could also play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the 38-year-old’s political career.
After joining the Reform Party on Friday, Kim proposed that Lee consider running in a constituency in Daegu or North Gyeongsang Province, a traditional conservative stronghold.
However, Eom said that Kim’s arrival might pave the way for Lee to pursue a proportional representation seat, offering a relatively easier path to the Assembly.
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I accepted the offer to help cultivate the seeds
of emerging political forces.
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