KOR- TK Is Weak Territory for Party; Kim Boo-kyum Initially Discouraged Running
- Only 2% Party Members... Need Guaranteed Opportunities to Grow Over Vote Weighting
- ABC Theory, Core vs. Non-Core Supporters? Democratic Party Needs to Come to Its Senses
- Jung Chung-rae's Leadership Unfit for Ruling Party
- 'Myung-Cheong Conflict' Frame? Not a Strife Without Substance
- Jung Chung-rae Declared Position on Supplementary Investigative Powers on Facebook Without Deliberation
- Has Created Internal Conflicts Himself Over the Past Year
- Jung Chung-rae's Excessive Fear Marketing... Is He That Lacking in Confidence?
- Rhyu Si-min Targeting President Lee? Aimed at Rallying Base Timed with Voting Period
- President Lee's Collateral Mortgage? Showing Consideration for Buyer, Criticism Is Pathetic
■ Broadcast: SBS Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show (FM 103.5MHz 7:00–9:00 AM)
■ Date: July 22, 2026 (Wednesday)
■ Host: Kim Tae-hyun, Lawyer
■ Guest: Lim Mi-ae, Democratic Party Lawmaker
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: As announced earlier, we will now meet Representative Lim Mi-ae, who has thrown her hat in the ring for the Democratic Party of Korea's Supreme Council election. Hello.
▶ Lim Mi-ae: Hello. Let me introduce myself. I am Candidate No. 12 for the Supreme Council, Lim Mi-ae, expanding and building a broader Democratic Party.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: Is it going well?
▶ Lim Mi-ae: I am working hard.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: In the recent local elections, former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum publicly endorsed Candidate Lim Mi-ae. There is a need for someone to represent the voice of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region in the Democratic Party. Although former Prime Minister Kim lost, he put up a strong showing, didn't he?
▶ Lim Mi-ae: Who was the politician who moved the public the most in this local election? Unquestionably, Kim Boo-kyum. He didn't tell me in advance. I was surprised as well. I am very grateful and also feel sorry. Before making the decision to run, I called him. When I spoke to him to consult, our party's presence in that area was so small, and the number of Central Committee members was small too, so he felt uneasy about me exhausting myself and suggested, "How about not doing it?"
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: Getting exhausted and unnecessarily fatigued. You are currently serving as the head of the North Gyeongsang Provincial Chapter, right?
▶ Lim Mi-ae: I stepped down when registering as a candidate.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: Former Lawmaker Kim Hyun-kwon is your spouse, and you have been doing politics in Daegu for a long time.
▶ Lim Mi-ae: Yes, for a long time.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: What does it mean to engage in politics as a Democratic Party member in Daegu-Gyeongbuk?
▶ Lim Mi-ae: After losing the presidential election, how difficult it must have been to run in local elections. But there was a writer who documented that process, and it was made into a movie that we watched. Many people say it is like doing an independence movement, but I actually don't like that expression very much. However, what I felt in common was that most Democratic Party members and supporters, including myself, have this pride: the feeling that by gradually increasing support for the Democratic Party in this tough area, we are acting like warriors expanding the horizon of South Korea's democracy. Through that movie, we could feel that we take immense pride in engaging in Democratic Party activities.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: After former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum's strong showing in the local elections, the view of the Democratic Party might have changed.
▶ Lim Mi-ae: It has changed a lot. Before the local elections, support for the Lee Jae-myung administration was very high, although there was a significant gap between that and party support. Ultimately, we lost in the local elections, but expectations are still very high. The number of people saying, "Maybe next time, if the Democratic Party prepares a bit more, there will be an opportunity for us," has increased significantly. This is very encouraging for us.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: While metropolitan leaders and local governments were like that, I heard the party made strides in basic municipal councils.
▶ Lim Mi-ae: The number of elected basic local constituency members increased significantly, with 60 being elected. For provincial/metropolitan councils, only proportional representatives were elected, so out of a total of 115 candidates nominated, 60 were elected, which can be considered a strong showing.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: It should be normal to see Democratic Party lawmakers elected in Daegu-Gyeongbuk and People Power Party lawmakers elected in Gwangju-Jeonnam, but it is very difficult, isn't it?
▶ Lim Mi-ae: Right. I believe that is how South Korean politics makes progress.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: There were Democratic Party figures from Daegu-Gyeongbuk, but they were outside the Assembly. Both parties do things like the People Power Party appointing representatives from the Honam region out of consideration. If you get elected to the Supreme Council this time, it won't be an appointed seat. That would be a big deal for the Democratic Party.
▶ Lim Mi-ae: It would be a first. Speaking of the scale of party members, among over 1.5 million fee-paying members, Daegu and Gyeongbuk combined account for less than 2%—1.8%. Under such circumstances, running for an elected post is virtually impossible unless I persuade party comrades in Honam and other regions beyond Daegu-Gyeongbuk. However, I believe there are many party members who sympathize with and support the Democratic Party's banner of becoming a nationwide party. Furthermore, if I am elected this time, won't voters in Yeongnam, including Daegu-Gyeongbuk, think this way? "Even though we couldn't get candidates elected in this local election, and even though many voters still find the Democratic Party somewhat unreliable, the Democratic Party is not giving up on Yeongnam. They are making efforts to listen to the voice of Daegu-Gyeongbuk." I believe it will send that message.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: That would indeed be meaningful. But the party said it would give a 5% vote weighting to Daegu-Gyeongbuk and South Gyeongsang, and I heard you rejected that.
▶ Lim Mi-ae: It wasn't a rejection.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: Isn't giving a weighting a good thing?
▶ Lim Mi-ae: As I mentioned earlier, our membership in Daegu and Gyeongbuk combined is 1.8%. Even if a 5% weighting is applied to that, the actual effect is only 0.1%. So it is virtually meaningless. But we are not asking for weighting; our earnest desire is for Daegu-Gyeongbuk to expand its party presence on its own and grow further. That is why what we want from the party is to guarantee us opportunities to grow on our own.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: What kind of opportunity guarantee are you talking about?
▶ Lim Mi-ae: A prime example would be my election this time. Although I am a proportional representation lawmaker, I consistently maintain media exposure in Yeongnam, and people communicate with the Democratic Party through me. Even though making me a proportional lawmaker was just one position, when people in Daegu-Gyeongbuk are curious about the Democratic Party's policies or want to talk, they do so through me. I believe creating many such opportunities within the party is the first thing that needs to be done.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: So that the Democratic Party can move forward as a nationwide party?
▶ Lim Mi-ae: Exactly. People in Yeongnam don't know what the Democratic Party is doing. In particular, people in Daegu-Gyeongbuk didn't have suitable Democratic Party politicians to call upon in the media.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: For instance, even if Yeongnam Ilbo wanted to conduct an interview.
▶ Lim Mi-ae: Yes. But as someone like me continuously spoke out like that over two years, people in Daegu-Gyeongbuk now have opportunities to frequently hear the Democratic Party's side, ask questions when curious, and so on.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: I see. You previously said that we need "a leadership that works not only within the political camp, but can also converse outside the camp." What does this mean? It sounds good, but...
▶ Lim Mi-ae: We are the ruling party. Hearing all this talk about "non-core supporters" (outer rabbits) and "core supporters" (home rabbits) inside the party right now...
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: There is also the ABC theory.
▶ Lim Mi-ae: I think we really need to come to our senses. If we were an opposition party turned away by the public and in a difficult spot with very few seats in the National Assembly, I would think it makes sense to unite tightly around the core base and rely solely on voices within our camp. But we are the ruling party now. We must conduct politics while looking at the South Korean public, and we are in a position to take full responsibility for the success or failure of state administration. Then, we need politics that persuades the public beyond our camp and aligns with the public's expectations. However, I feel great regret that our current leadership falls short of this.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: Then former Leader Jung Chung-rae—who is now a candidate—his leadership did not fit?
▶ Lim Mi-ae: It was not a leadership suitable for a ruling party.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: Then running for re-election is also unsuitable?
▶ Lim Mi-ae: In the past, there were times when we were moved by politician Jung Chung-rae. Even after being cut off from nominations, he traveled nationwide. But now, with local election results turning out like this, with dissonance between the party and the government, and above all, with party members and supporters experiencing this degree of conflict, he should take responsibility for all of this, keep it inside even if it feels unfair, and resolve it quietly in a year or two. Instead, bringing everything out, gathering it as his political support base, and running for party leader? I believe that does not fit the leadership style expected of Democratic Party politicians.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: The expression 'Myung-Cheong conflict' has been used a lot. Do you think it actually exists, or do you view it as a frame created by the media?
▶ Lim Mi-ae: At first, I actually thought it was just a frame. However, we have confirmed multiple times that it is not a conflict without substance. For example, regarding the issue of supplementary investigative authority, the presidential office asked for careful deliberation. I think that attitude is very desirable. Furthermore, they handed over the decision-making authority to the party. In that case, we should enter a phase of deliberation. Deliberation means listening to many people's voices. But Leader Jung Chung-rae turned around and declared his position on Facebook first.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: Complete abolition.
▶ Lim Mi-ae: Yes. If that happens, deliberation becomes impossible. I believe he has been creating conflict himself through this process over the past year.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: So you view it as: if Representative Jung Chung-rae is re-elected, conflict among party members will grow, conflict with the presidential office will grow, and it will not be very helpful for the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration?
▶ Lim Mi-ae: I feel a sense of crisis. That is why I believe a new leadership must be established this time. Even if it is not what I want, such a decision could be made by the vote of party members. In that case, if Representative Jung Chung-rae is elected, his biggest immediate challenge would likely be resolving internal party conflict.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: Understood. You mentioned it briefly earlier—the talk about non-core vs. core supporters. Candidate Jung Chung-rae recently appeared on a broadcast and said that capturing the core base is important, which is almost identical to Kim O-jun's view: "Even if you catch the non-core supporters, it's useless if you lose the core supporters." From the Democratic Party's perspective, non-core supporters are Daegu-Gyeongbuk, and core supporters are Honam. Having heard Representative Jung Chung-rae's words on core and non-core supporters, your thoughts must be complex.
▶ Lim Mi-ae: I do not agree at all. It is fear marketing targeted at party members. On one hand, I wonder, is he that lacking in confidence? The term "non-core supporters" refers to members of the public who are just starting to open their hearts. And "core supporters" means party members. From my perspective, having done politics in Daegu-Gyeongbuk for a long time, I am a core supporter. Yet, I want the Democratic Party to engage in politics aimed at non-core supporters—in other words, aimed at the public. But separating them with a dichotomous mindset makes me question whether that is proper leadership. I wish he wouldn't use that kind of excessive fear marketing on party members. How does he plan to clean that up later?
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: This might be a similar issue: writer Rhyu Si-min says things similar to Representative Jung Chung-rae. Writer Rhyu Si-min recently spoke about the "theory of President Lee Jae-myung's inevitable failure," and last night on a YouTube broadcast, he said, "We judged that the head of the 'New Lee Jae-myung' faction is likely President Lee Jae-myung himself, not figures like Representative Lee Un-ju." How did you hear this?
▶ Lim Mi-ae: To be honest, before running for the Supreme Council, I didn't pay much attention to such remarks. I didn't bother distinguishing things like "New Lee Jae-myung" either. But looking at yesterday's interview content and reading through news articles, I wondered why he is bringing up this story at this specific time. Since voting has been underway since yesterday, I think he wanted to send a message exquisitely timed to further rally specific support groups and encourage them to vote.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: To throw weight behind Representative Jung Chung-rae and "Team Jung Chung-rae," so to speak?
▶ Lim Mi-ae: Among people who agree with writer Rhyu Si-min's remarks, and in fact when I meet party members, those remarks do carry influence.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: Naturally.
▶ Lim Mi-ae: So there are many who believe those words and feel anxious. "Isn't President Lee Jae-myung anxious? What if he gets targeted by prosecutors himself after his term ends?" I have heard quite a few party members worrying like this.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: Trying to scratch that itch?
▶ Lim Mi-ae: It's for the party convention.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: Yesterday, writer Rhyu also spoke regarding supplementary investigative authority, saying, "I think the president holds a stance of complete opposition to separating investigation and prosecution. My hypothesis is that he wants to leave investigative authority with the prosecution."
▶ Lim Mi-ae: We had a policy general meeting of lawmakers yesterday. Watching it became a learning experience for me, discovering new aspects I hadn't felt during previous discussions with fellow lawmakers. So on one hand, I thought about how much we would have regretted it later if we had just passed over this crucial issue without having such a time. Whatever the conclusion may be, holding such a deliberation process publicly is extremely important. However, as various cases unfold—like the Jang Yun-gi case, or situations involving women, children, and youth related to sex crimes—there are points that the public remains concerned about. If the president completely ignores those concerning public voices and insists, "Because I suffered harm from the prosecution, I have no room for compromise on this issue; we must go with complete stripping of investigative powers as originally asserted," I want to ask back if that would be the right stance for a president. Why push the situation to make the president make wrong choices, detach from the public, and turn his back on the public? I believe those are not loyal remarks, but remarks that divide the president from the public. At this point, for a proper politician and ruling party, "Please deliberate" is naturally the correct answer. The public is worried about this aspect. In fact, 99% of prosecutorial investigative powers are actually related to public livelihoods.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: General civil cases.
▶ Lim Mi-ae: I looked into it myself. In that respect, the concerns the president holds are legitimate. We should discuss them. Instead of constantly asserting and suspecting that the president lacks the will regarding the prosecution's supplementary investigative authority and brought it to this point, and trying to alienate the public, I hope we give it a little more time.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: So you are saying that complete abolition of supplementary investigative authority before the party convention is a no-go?
▶ Lim Mi-ae: I oppose it. What I felt during yesterday's policy general meeting was that we need to listen more.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: Regarding the system.
▶ Lim Mi-ae: Even if a conclusion is reached to completely strip supplementary investigative authority as argued, I believe we must have sufficient time for deliberation and for the public to empathize with what problems existed in this system.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: In any case, you need to get elected. Do you have a winning card, Candidate?
▶ Lim Mi-ae: Rather than a winning card that I personally hold, many candidates talk about a "winning Democratic Party." But nobody talks about how to win. I believe that for the Democratic Party to win, the banner it must raise is becoming a nationwide party. And this national expansion is on an extension of Kim Dae-jung's eastward policy, Roh Moo-hyun's balanced national development, and overcoming regionalism. Furthermore, what President Lee Jae-myung calls a "structural majority"—if I express that in my own terms, that is becoming a nationwide party, and this is a value the Democratic Party has dreamed of for a long time. Realizing this value is the way for the Democratic Party to win. And I believe our party members will agree with this value. On the path to becoming a nationwide party, I, Lim Mi-ae, am the right answer.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: Understood. Since you came, one last question, Lawmaker. Yesterday, a real estate issue emerged regarding President Lee's Bundang apartment, where a collateral mortgage was established for the buyer. The People Power Party criticized it as "Democratic Mortgage" or "private finance," claiming, "After blocking loan pathways, the president gave benefits to the buyer through private financing."
▶ Lim Mi-ae: Didn't he simply understand the buyer's situation? Taking out a loan and setting up a collateral mortgage are different things. In fact, from the buyer's standpoint, when redevelopment begins, ownership registration needs to be completed in advance, but the seller didn't want to receive the money yet. So setting up a mortgage before receiving payment was done, and I think making a forced point of attack out of this is pathetic.
▷ Kim Tae-hyun: Understood, Lawmaker. We will wrap up here today. That was Representative Lim Mi-ae, who has declared her candidacy for the Democratic Party of Korea's Supreme Council election. Thank you.
▶ Lim Mi-ae: Thank you.
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[SBS Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show]
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
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