Disputed figures join Moon Jae-in's campaign

By Kim Hyo-jin

Kim Kwang-doo, Sogang University professor

Leading presidential contender Moon Jae-in is in the hot seat over some controversial figures joining his campaign team.

After Moon recruited some conservatives, other hopefuls in the Democratic Party of Korea attacked him for indiscriminately picking such people.

Moon’s campaign recruited Kim Kwang-doo, an economics professor at Sogang University, who was called an “economic tutor” for impeached former President Park Geun-hye, Wednesday.

Kim formulated the economic policies of then presidential candidate Park in the 2012 presidential election. He is now the head of her think thank, the Institute for the Future of State.

“I have discussed how to reach national unity beyond conservatives and liberals with my aides since late last year while studying the economy,” Moon said, explaining the background of the recruitment. He referred to Kim’s joining as a reflection of his intention for such unity.

DPK members questioned if it was an appropriate selection with the party setting its sights on becoming the new government.

Controversy has lingered with other figures too. He has taken flak for recruiting Chung Kyung-jin, a former Busan vice mayor. Chung is accused of putting pressure on the organizing committee of Busan International Film Festival to not show a film about the sinking of the ferry Sewol in 2014.

Yang Hyang-ja, a former Samsung senior executive who was recruited by Moon before the 2016 general election, also caused a stir after she showed anti-labor sentiment.

She called Banolim, a local advocacy group representing families of Samsung employees who contracted incurable diseases or died, “professional protesters,” drawing much criticism. Though she apologized, the damage to the image of Moon being a liberal candidate was not removed.

But Moon, who has boasted the lead in public polls among presidential contenders for a long time, does not seem to care too much about controversy on the political identities of his personnel. He said he put more importance on the merits from figures from all over the political spectrum.

“Not all people can be flawless. They can have weaknesses. But when they get together and share their strength, it can be a good base for a change of the government,” Moon said during a televised debate among DPK contenders, Tuesday.

The leading contender showed no intention of shifting his direction in recruitment, ignoring criticism by his rivals.

“It is not right to easily label people as corrupt or pro-chaebol. It could be as wrong as we have recklessly been accused of being North Korea sympathizers. We need to know how to embrace centrists and rational conservatives,” he said.

Though critical of Moon’s screening process in recruitment, commentators say the disparate camp will help further cement his lead in the race.

“It’s true that there are too many hangers-on and Moon let them join indiscriminately in a bid to expand his turf,” said political analyst Hwang Tae-soon.

“Putting everyone from liberals and conservatives under his wing, however, will benefit him more because it can demoralize conservative voters and overwhelm them with this muscle-flexing. It may lead to killing their interest in voting for minor conservative competitors.”

k’s home turf, Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province. Even though he is governor of South Gyeongsang Province, he plans to declare his presidential bid at a traditional market in Daegu, Park’s birthplace, this week.

Rep. Kim Jin-tae of the LKP, a staunch loyalist of Park, predicts strife between the Park supporters and Hong.

“It is improper for Hong to declare his bid at the market where Park used to visit whenever she was troubled,” Kim said Thursday.