- Resolve for the main primary? From Lee's spokesperson to the spokesperson for rank-and-file party members
- Pro-Jeong 'voting guidelines' seem to have worked; goes against the spirit of the one-person, one-vote system
- Anti-democratic behavior; let's conduct the main primary fair and square
- Artificial alliances are childish... Contacted for consultation, but proceeding 'Kim Yong's way'
- Party leader candidates who can support the Lee administration are Kim Min-seok and Song Young-gil
- Shincheonji interference allegations? Plausible enough, as in the Lee Nak-yon case
- However, it should not be used as a tool for political conflict during the national convention
- Rhyu Si-min's remarks are fiction; if true, I would have heard rumors at least
- If disappointed, he should just call the president directly
- Holding tax increase? I will voice suggestions that it should not be increased
■ Broadcast: SBS Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show (FM 103.5 MHz 7:00 – 9:00 AM)
■ Date: July 24, 2026 (Fri)
■ Host: Attorney Kim Tae-hyun
■ Guest: Kim Yong, Democratic Party Supreme Council Candidate
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Yesterday, the results of the Democratic Party's preliminary primary were announced. Among the 14 contenders for the Supreme Council election, you are a candidate who secured a ticket to the main primary. This is candidate Kim Yong for Supreme Council member, who served as Vice President of the Institute for Democracy. Hello, candidate.
▶Kim Yong: Hello. Nice to meet you.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Candidate, first of all, congratulations on passing the cutoff.
▶Kim Yong: Thank you.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: You'll make it into the top five in the end, right?
▶Kim Yong: Not necessarily.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Really?
▶Kim Yong: Competition is getting fierce. It's narrowed down to eight candidates now, and it's been a very long time since I ran as a player. Until now, I only worked as staff in elections. I worked on the presidential election, the Gyeonggi provincial governor election, and the party national convention. But running myself this time, it's so hard. So I'm contemplating what to do for the remaining period.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: When speaking of former Vice President Kim Yong, you are known as one of the people closest to President Lee Jae-myung. The president himself personally said, "To be considered a close aide, one should at least be someone like Kim Yong or Jeong Jin-sang." So, isn't your election guaranteed?
▶Kim Yong: He said that in the past.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Not anymore?
▶Kim Yong: Now there are so many good people around him, so rather than being a close aide... I was previously called Lee Jae-myung's spokesperson, but when I announced my candidacy this time, I declared that I would become a spokesperson for the rank-and-file party members—a spokesperson for the 2 million rank-and-file members who protect the Democratic Party.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Yes.
▶Kim Yong: Actually, on the ground, after I was released on bail last year, I listened to voices on the ground while holding book concerts and special lectures. My belief was confirmed: the ground is important, and answers lie on the ground. So I am trying to inject that energy into the party as well.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: However, eight candidates have been decided. We should look at who they are. Naturally, the media looks at factions.
▶Kim Yong: That's right.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Among them, five belong to the so-called pro-Lee—or shortened to pro-Seok, pro-Song—factions, while all three candidates from pro-Jeong, known as Team Jeong Chung-rae, made it through.
▶Kim Yong: That's correct.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Looking at the numbers, five pro-Lee candidates are a lot, but for Team Jeong Chung-rae, all three made it without a single drop. How should we view this?
▶Kim Yong: I think their strategy for the preliminary primary was remarkably excellent in terms of electoral engineering. Assigning monthly guidelines to party members on whom to vote for... Watching that, on one hand, I felt very unpleasant. While talking about one-person, one-vote party member sovereignty... the national convention is a festival, and we are a proud ruling party with 1.5 million members. Saying "You vote here, and you vote there"—would even an elementary school class president election be run like this? That's why I've been criticizing it a lot. This shouldn't happen. The public is watching, so we must view this from the public's eye level. To support the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration over its remaining four years, in selecting the leadership and the Supreme Council members who constitute it, telling members born between January and April to vote for one person and members born between April and August to vote for another... I was truly shocked by this.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: You're saying it goes entirely against the original intent of creating the one-person, one-vote system to guarantee party members' rights.
▶Kim Yong: It doesn't fit at all, doesn't fit at all. This might be an overinterpretation, but it's anti-democratic behavior. The most basic principles in democracy include the four basic principles of voting, don't they? It completely damages that. Furthermore, it drives people into collective voting. So now that the preliminary primary is over, since they achieved good results through it, I hope they won't do that from now on. Engage in the election fair and square, give hope to the public and rank-and-file members, and really focus on the remaining four years. I don't think there's anything else more important. In the end, winning the general election by doing well for two years, and then re-winning power based on achievements after doing well for the remaining two years—isn't that the biggest purpose and value for us Democratic Party members?
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Yes.
▶Kim Yong: In that regard, I believe we must keep in mind that the national convention is watched not only as a festival for our Democratic Party, but also by the general public. We need to proceed with that in mind.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: But Candidate, there are five candidates on one side. The three candidates from Team Jeong Chung-rae banded tightly together and went as far as monthly guidelines. But even if the other two join, the number of Supreme Council members would be outnumbered 3 to 2. To run the party smoothly, it would be more convenient if a majority of Supreme Council members were pro-Lee candidates.
▶Kim Yong: There were such discussions during the preliminary primary. People I know contacted me saying we should consult like that.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: So votes wouldn't split.
▶Kim Yong: But I just trust the big trend. I trust the big trend and simply act as a spokesperson for rank-and-file members, believing only in the public, doing things Kim Yong's way. The world won't change just because I hold someone's hand and walk in together. It's about sincerely winning the hearts of rank-and-file members, our Democratic Party members. And wouldn't most of the other candidates running feel the same way? At the very least, isn't the Supreme Council of the Democratic Party the highest decision-making body in a giant ruling party? Because it's a consultative body, if someone aspires to enter it, I believe it's right to do so with at least their own thoughts, vision, and dedication.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: So you won't engage in artificial alliances or 'birthday-based voting'?
▶Kim Yong: It's childish.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: It's childish. But the media also seems to pay attention to this: Representative Lee Kun-tae and Representative Park Seong-joon, who led the group advocating for dropping charges for the president within the Democratic Party, were eliminated. The media seems curious about what this means.
▶Kim Yong: Regarding that part, I also mentioned it yesterday when offering my gratitude after the preliminary primary ended. Candidate Lee Kun-tae, who truly served passionately as legal counsel during President Lee Jae-myung's difficult times and worked most selflessly in the party, did not pass. While there are various analyses, in my view, it seems to be a matter of public recognition.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Yes.
▶Kim Yong: Representative Park Seong-joon served as a broadcast news anchor as well, and both are truly outstanding individuals. When I meet them in private, Representative Lee Kun-tae is a friend, and Representative Park Seong-joon is my junior, but I always learn from them. They are wonderful people, but in terms of public recognition... for someone like me, Kim Yong, when I was arrested four years ago, I was featured across broadcasts as Lee Jae-myung's confidant, involved in political funds and bribery allegations, so my recognition went way up. Honestly, I think that helped me. But Representative Lee Kun-tae and Representative Park Seong-joon had some regret in terms of recognition. So now that the preliminary primary is over, we're in the main election, right? In the main election, I think it's right to be evaluated based on each candidate's vision, role, and usefulness.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: For now, candidate, your ultimate goal is to win both the general election and the presidential election to secure the re-election of a Democratic administration. And before that, the natural success of the Lee Jae-myung administration, right?
▶Kim Yong: The standard for this national convention is precisely that: how efficiently and firmly we can support the Lee Jae-myung administration. I see that as the primary key to forming the leadership. Wouldn't many party members feel the same at the national convention? Over the past year, the president received immense applause from the public regarding national sovereignty—overcoming civil strife and such. Another aspect is national unity—becoming a president for everyone. I deeply agree with that. He shouldn't become a president for a specific faction within the Democratic Party. That's why, with the single-minded determination to become a president for everyone, plus meritocracy...
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Meritocracy.
▶Kim Yong: Since his time in Gyeonggi Province, the person named Lee Jae-myung whom I experienced in Seongnam and Gyeonggi Province was truly practical and had incredible efficacy. But now, he has transcended that level. He is working so hard with good people that I dare not even evaluate him. I think we must look at that as the core.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: The Supreme Council member who can support the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration is you, Kim Yong...
▶Kim Yong: No, not just me; I believe we will do it together.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: One of them is you, Kim Yong. But who should be the party leader? The party leader position is crucial. We need to elect well.
▶Kim Yong: Yes, it's important. The party leader is even more important. Supreme Council members exist to assist the party leader. First of all, based on the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration, I think candidate Kim Min-seok, the former Prime Minister who worked in harmony with the Lee Jae-myung administration over the past year and shared in those achievements, is suitable. And regarding the choice of party members, former leader Song Young-gil devoted himself to making Lee Jae-myung president during the 20th presidential election. After the 20th presidential election, I was sent to prison by the prosecution, but back then, even after being hit on the head with a hammer, he put the party before self to run as candidate for Seoul mayor. I think those two candidates would be more than sufficient.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: What happens if candidate Jeong Chung-rae is re-elected?
▶Kim Yong: Even if he is re-elected, there's nothing we can do except work together. While serving another term, we must do our utmost together for the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration. That is a very natural point.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Understood. Regarding the Shincheonji allegations, candidate, is this really true?
▶Kim Yong: I don't know the exact details. But I believe this isn't just a suspicion; it could actually be true. Because first, it was recently revealed through the prosecution special investigation that Shincheonji actually entered the People Power Party—about 58,000 members joined, as shown in the prosecution investigation. Second, my experience was during our party primary ahead of the 20th presidential election, when we were competing against candidate Lee Nak-yon's side. At the time, candidate Lee Jae-myung's side was overwhelmingly leading, but in the final Seoul primary, an unimaginable result came out.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Right.
▶Kim Yong: As you, the anchor, might remember, at that time it was 6 to 4...
▷Kim Tae-hyun: The gap narrowed drastically.
▶Kim Yong: It completely reversed. So at the time, various analyses suggested that a heretical religion had infiltrated. I find credibility in that because when President Lee Jae-myung was Gyeonggi governor during COVID-19, he clamped down heavily on Shincheonji as a collective group and even went all the way to Gapyeong to catch Lee Man-hee.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: I remember that.
▶Kim Yong: To Shincheonji at the time, Governor Lee Jae-myung was essentially a total devil. Therefore, they had a stance that Lee Jae-myung must never succeed. Considering that, regarding political parties...
▷Kim Tae-hyun: There is a possibility?
▶Kim Yong: Also, isn't that their nature? Considering that their essence is to connect with the political sphere somehow to maximize their survival and influence, I think there is ample plausibility. Another point Prime Minister Kim Min-seok mentioned isn't just the Shincheonji issue. The issue of dual party membership needs to be cleaned up. Joining the Democratic Party while also joining Party B and Party C, moving around in groups during every election—that violates the Constitution of the Republic of Korea. That is improper. Because it's an illegal act that completely distorts decision-making in our democratic society's political parties, I hope the truth comes out quickly regarding this. My only regret is that we're currently in the middle of a national convention. So this shouldn't be used as a tool for political conflict.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: That's right.
▶Kim Yong: We should set up an internal party body or request an investigation, leave it at that, and talk about the future and vision.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Yes.
▶Kim Yong: But this has turned into a political dispute, and those in the pro-Jeong faction are using this, previously using the one-person, one-vote system, prosecution reform, supplementary investigation rights, and recently the Shincheonji issue. Our party's national convention agenda shouldn't proceed like this. It shouldn't go in a negative format, but towards a future vision.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Understood. Earlier, candidate, you mentioned that President Lee Jae-myung should not remain as the leader of a single faction, but must become a president for all citizens. That's a great point and naturally expected. However, writer Rhyu Si-min recently referred to the president as the head of the 'New Lee Jae-myung' faction. How did you hear that?
▶Kim Yong: Since so many people have given negative assessments of that, it's not really my place to add more comments, but it's too obvious that the president must be a president for everyone.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: That's completely obvious.
▶Kim Yong: And how many citizens would sympathize with writer Rhyu Si-min's recent remarks? As I mentioned earlier, rather than a president for everyone and a Democratic Party for everyone, those who favor a Democratic Party for a few, or a specific faction within the party, would agree a lot. Saying, "Yes, the core is important, the inside." Isn't that basic? The core being important is basic. For us, it's core plus alpha: young people, women, and workers who live diligently in workplaces yet are secretly anxious in the AI era. Attracting these people, working for them, and earning their trust through action—I see that as the Democratic Party's basic foundation. But he keeps making very backward-looking statements.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Yes.
▶Kim Yong: Also, because I was so busy, I didn't actually know well about this content. But looking back last time, it all connected. First, he mentioned the 'value theory.' While discussing the 'value theory'...
▷Kim Tae-hyun: ABC.
▶Kim Yong: Then it became the 'ABC theory,' then 'reconstruction theory'—reconstruction and extension. A bit later, 'inevitable defeat theory.'
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Inevitable defeat.
▶Kim Yong: Then 'conspiracy theory,' and now calling him a faction head while saying the fish market is rotting...
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Faction head, fish market.
▶Kim Yong: Claiming President Lee Jae-myung is behind all these masterplans—does that make any sense? If so, I should at least know about it. If it were a conspiracy theory to reorganize political circles or clean up internal party factions, someone at my level should know about it, shouldn't I?
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Yes.
▶Kim Yong: If it's a lawmaker I know, I should have heard rumors at least. So I think writer Rhyu Si-min, from a personal omniscient perspective, keeps coming up with fiction-based thoughts, backing logic with logic with logic, thereby going way too far, which doesn't fit reality. These remaining four years may seem long, but they are not long. I hope he returns to the writer Rhyu Si-min of a year and a half ago, when the democratic camp united and gave hope to the public.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Yes.
▶Kim Yong: And if he feels disappointed in the president, he should just call him. He can just meet him. When President Lee was Gyeonggi governor, I introduced senior Moon Sung-keun and commentator Kim Gap-soo to him, and they maintained a good relationship with the president and are still communicating now, as far as I know.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: By the way, when the host asked him about that at the end of yesterday's live radio show, he cut it short, saying, "I have no intention of meeting him."
▶Kim Yong: If he says he has no intention of meeting, I don't understand that. I want to believe he is saying this as sincere advice for the success of our government.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Understood.
▶Kim Yong: But naturally, he should meet the president, people around the president, or close acquaintances around the president to convey his thoughts. If there's no feedback, I think doing it publicly would then make sense.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Candidate, one last question. Yesterday, there was a major real estate debate, right? The president raised the topic of holding taxes. But if holding taxes are introduced, wouldn't it become somewhat difficult politically to expand the supporter base, build a structural majority, and expand to moderate conservatives?
▶Kim Yong: Because of the preliminary primary yesterday, I couldn't hear the exact details of that debate, but since you mentioned this question today, I briefly looked at it on my way here. As I thought, real estate in South Korea is a hot topic that no one can avoid. So I see it as an expression of his determination to personally handle it. I don't think specific details like strengthening holding taxes were brought up there.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Yes.
▶Kim Yong: Issues like strengthening holding taxes have been raised since the Moon Jae-in administration and previous progressive administrations. If I enter the Democratic Party, I will propose setting up a special body within the party. There is a special body now, but it's not effective at all. Why can't we do that? Why can't the Democratic Party go to the field and listen to people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s trembling with anxiety over owning a single home? That's their life. Listening to them, the Democratic Party can make suggestions to the president: "We shouldn't increase holding taxes further." I, Kim Yong, will play that role, representing the voice of rank-and-file party members.
▷Kim Tae-hyun: Understood. We'll end it here. Today we spoke with Democratic Party Supreme Council candidate Kim Yong. Thank you.
▶Kim Yong: Thank you.
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