The ruling Saenuri Party Leader Rep. Kim Moo-sung set out to consolidate his conservative base during his trip to the U.S. in the past week, unleashing remarks that appeal to conservative voters as he sought to solidify his growing popularity at home as a presidential hopeful.

In his first-ever trip to Washington as the Saenuri Party leader, Kim devoted most of his schedule to highlighting the significance of the Korean-U.S. alliance and paying tribute to the Korean War veterans, while expressing caution against progressives who, in his words, threaten Korea. 

“I understand there is concern here in Washington that Korea is getting closer with China than the U.S. We must not forget that the U.S. is our sole alliance that is irreplaceable and indelible,” Kim said Monday in a meeting with reporters in Washington.

“I am afraid that some progressives might hijack the future of Korea. I can’t even fathom what Korea would be like if she had followed progressives to choose communism. Our party will do its best to prevent that from happening by winning an election,” said Kim in a separate meeting with Koreans who reside in the U.S.

Kim wasted no time in showing respect to those who fought during the Korean War. Dubbed as “deep-bow diplomacy” by Korea’s media outlets, Kim kowtowed to the war veterans and thanked them for coming to fight for “the country that has never been known,” adding, “We owe you a great deal.”

Kim’s move is widely seen as an attempt to rile conservative supporters in the run-up to the 2015 general election and 2017 presidential election, as he leads in the latest poll that surveyed the most likely next president, analysts said.

Korea’s pollster Realmeter showed Monday that Kim garnered 24 percent of support among voters, outpacing other political heavyweights such as Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy leader Moon Jae-in and former NPAD leader Ahn Cheol-soo. 

“(Kim’s remark) is designed for his presidential bid,” said Chung Jin-min, professor of politics at Myongji University in Seoul. “Considering his position in the party, I think he made such comments to appeal to conservative voters,” Chung said.

 

Other experts assessed Kim’s move as a step to reinforce his position as a conservative party leader until the next presidential election, by thrusting support to President Park Geun-hye’s conservative foreign policy that focuses on the Korea-U.S. alliance.

“Given that Korea’s political landscape is somewhat leaning toward conservatism, Kim’s kowtow to the U.S veterans is more likely to be one to the conservative voters. Obviously, Kim is the most popular figure among conservative politicians,” said Choi Jin, chairman of the Institute of Presidential Leadership.

“Whether he wants it or not, Kim would emerge as a strong candidate as President Park’s term nears its end. In the meantime, I think he will seek to gain ground by giving remarks that echo the president’s foreign policy,” Choi said.

In true politician style, Kim for the time being dismissed speculation that his trip was in anticipation of a future presidential bid. “The trip is a part of the party’s diplomacy plan. The relationship with the U.S. is the most politically important issue. That is why the trip was arranged,” Kim told reporters last Saturday before getting on a plane to Washington.



By Yeo Jun-suk (jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)