Kim Young-jin: "Rhyu Si-min's Accumulated Anger Has Become an Illness... Needs to Decide Whether to Run as a Player"

- Oh Se-hoon's 'Loss of Mayoralty Sentence,' a Ruling Based on Facts
- Oh Se-hoon's Denials Are Useless... Facts Will Not Change
- Special Counsel '6-3-3' Trial Rule First... Too Early to Prepare for By-Election
- Shincheonji Interference? Doubtful if It's Decisive Enough to Sway National Convention
- 2022 Democratic Primary 3rd Round, Proved 'No Shincheonji Interference'
- Part of a Fierce Primary, Facts Need to Be Verified
- Rhyu Si-min "President Lee, Faction Leader"?... Making Such Distinctions Is Pitiful
- Premise of 'Rotten Stench' Inappropriate... Seems to Wish for Proof of 'Inevitable Defeat'
- At a Crossroads: Whether to Switch from 'Referee' to 'Player' Role
- Rhyu Si-min's Accumulated Anger Turned Into Illness... At a Concerning Level
- President Lee Does Not See Meeting Rhyu Si-min as a Solution
- Sincerity in Arguments for Supplementary Investigative Powers... Legislation Needs Further Refinement

■ Broadcast: SBS Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show (FM 103.5MHz 7:00 – 9:00 AM)
■ Date: July 23, 2026 (Thursday)
■ Host: Kim Tae-hyun, Attorney
■ Guest: Kim Young-jin, Democratic Party Representative

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Joining us is Representative Kim Young-jin of the Democratic Party, the "Young Man" who speaks his mind. Hello.

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: Hello.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Representative, your expression doesn't look very happy today.

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: I'm doing fine.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: The fighting has intensified so much ahead of the national convention. I thought you must be feeling quite exhausted from your perspective.

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: Not at all. Life is beautiful, and history progresses—we have to believe in that.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Indeed we should.

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: It will progress.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: First, regarding yesterday's first-instance verdict on Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. Since it was a fine of 10 million won, it's a sentence that would result in the loss of his mayoral position. Of course, it's only the first instance, but could you give us your assessment of the court's ruling?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: I think the court rendered a verdict based on the facts. In short, it viewed Myung Tae-kyun's act of providing free public opinion polls as a violation of the Political Funds Act, found him guilty on 5 counts involving 21 million won, and handed down a fine of 10 million won. The ruling of a 10 million won fine came as a result of a combination of evidence from Myung Tae-kyun, testimony from Vice Mayor Kang Chul-won and supporter Kim Han-jung who acted as supporting figures in the middle, various circumstantial evidence, and Mayor Oh Se-hoon's statements and circumstances.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Since this is proceeding under the Special Counsel Act, it adheres to the 6-3-3 rule—meaning 3 months for the appellate court and 3 months for the Supreme Court. Although it is not a mandatory regulation, if strictly followed, a final verdict will be reached early next year.

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: That's right.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: For Mayor Oh Se-hoon, it might sound terrible, but if this is finalized, he will lose his mayoral position. That means a by-election. Looking at the Democratic Party yesterday, Representative Park Joo-min posted on Facebook, and Representative Park Ji-won mentioned "justice prevailing," suggesting an atmosphere of preparing for a by-election. Do you think preparations should begin in advance?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: For now, the principle of the special counsel and the trial court is 6-3-3, isn't it? 6 months for the first trial, 3 months for the second trial, and 3 months for the third trial. I think a judgment needs to be rendered strictly according to the law and trial principles by upholding those rules. Mayor Oh Se-hoon argued, "How can you trust the words of Myung Tae-kyun, an absolute liar?" But looking at Myung Tae-kyun's assertions, various circumstances, and details of money transfers, there is no reason for supporter Kim Han-jung to send 21 million won or 10 million won for no reason to a complete liar he knew nothing about.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Right.

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: Because there are such objective facts, I don't think the facts will change no matter how much Mayor Oh Se-hoon feigns ignorance now. And since this will proceed according to the trial, talking about a by-election now seems premature.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Still, it sounds like you're saying preparations should be made under the surface.

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: Well, everyone will handle that on their own.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Understood. Turning to party affairs. Representative, are there Shincheonji members in the Democratic Party? Because regarding the Unification Church and Shincheonji, those issues had only come up on the People Power Party side. But suddenly, Shincheonji allegations arose within the Democratic Party. It wasn't raised by the opposition People Power Party or the media, but Representative Kim Min-seok, a leading party leadership candidate and former Prime Minister, said, "There is a problem with Shincheonji," alleging that Shincheonji has entered the Democratic Party. We were taken aback, wondering, "Is that really true?" Did Shincheonji really enter?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: Objective facts or evidence will probably be stated by the person who made those claims. If there is evidence, he will present it. In fact, Shincheonji's history of political intervention goes back a long way. Most recently, when making Yoon Suk-yeol the candidate, they joined en masse, which angered former Representative Hong Joon-pyo.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Right.

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: Especially in the Democratic Party, during the 3rd primary for the 2022 presidential candidate between Candidate Lee Jae-myung and Candidate Lee Nak-yon, after results of about 6 to 4 in the 1st and 2nd rounds, it flipped to 4 to 6 in the 3rd round. There were many talks about how things played out in that context, but since we recruited an electoral college to conduct it, we didn't objectively verify it at that time. Back then, there was much talk about such intervention.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Yes.

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: In short, because the 3rd primary result came out in a form that did not reflect public sentiment and the opinion of the electoral college at the time, it crossed our minds that something strange might have operated, but the result has now been settled and concluded.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Yes.

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: Regarding the question of Shincheonji's intervention being brought up now, I think the person who made the claim and those opposing it can resolve it based on the facts.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Do you see this becoming a variable in the national convention? Because Shincheonji carries a certain perception and symbolism. For politicians, if they are tied to Shincheonji, it's actually a fatal blow. What do you think candidate Kim Min-seok meant by bringing this up at the national convention, and what kind of variable will it be?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: But I somewhat doubt whether Shincheonji intervention to the extent of determining victory or defeat, like between Yoon Suk-yeol and Hong Joon-pyo, will emerge here. So I think it's necessary to look into the facts.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Either way, former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok mentioned that he would present evidence step by step. Do you think he needs to present his evidence and settle this to prevent the controversy from growing further?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: Various arguments will be made. Since everyone's claims differ right now and these claims are being raised during the primary period, intervening in it directly would shake the primary field itself. So things are being adjusted.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Candidate Jung Cheong-rae also vowed the strongest response. Candidates for supreme council members close to Jung Cheong-rae—Lee Sung-yoon, Han Min-soo, and Choi Min-hee—are also pressing candidate Kim Min-seok to present evidence. Regarding this, Kim Min-seok drew a line, saying, "I only pointed out the issue of Shincheonji's political intervention, and I don't need to take responsibility for linking it to a specific candidate." But from Candidate Jung Cheong-rae's perspective, it could be very offensive if this isn't true. Then, even after the national convention, relations between the two might not flow smoothly. From Candidate Jung Cheong-rae's standpoint, he might see this attack as crossing the line. Will the party be okay after the national convention?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: I view these various statements as part of a fierce primary process. Didn't everything that could come out already come out, up to the past controversies over legitimacy and grave-exhumation? It's a similar situation to back then. In fact, issues from 20 years ago or 10 years ago were all brought up in attacks over legitimacy and grave-exhumation, so I think this has simply become one of those topics. I believe it will be thoroughly discussed, and the decision will be made by party members with voting rights and the public.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: So if candidate Kim Min-seok didn't make a false claim out of nowhere, but has grounds to believe there is a problem, then raising this level of attack is appropriate? It's not an attack that crosses the line?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: Since I don't know the objective facts, I don't think it's appropriate for me to comment on that. I believe it is necessary for the person who made the claim and those opposing it to debate and argue based on facts.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: All right. Let's talk about writer Rhyu Si-min. In the past, he talked about the president's doomed-to-fail theory, the ABC theory, and the reconstruction theory. Then, the night before last, he said, "I think the leader of New Lee Jae-myung is the President." This wording expressed the President as the leader of a faction within the Democratic Party. He referred to it as "rampages committed by people called Pro-Lee New Lee Jae-myung," and said, "I think the leader of New Lee Jae-myung is not Representative Lee Un-ju, but the President." He described the President as the head of a faction in the Democratic Party. How do you view this?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: I have said consistently that I feel President Lee Jae-myung is paving the way to becoming a president for everyone. There is New Lee Jae-myung, and there is Old Lee Jae-myung like me. Whether Old Lee Jae-myung, New Lee Jae-myung, or Current Lee Jae-myung, everyone is actually joining hands while caring about President Lee Jae-myung's success and future. So the destination for everyone is indeed President Lee Jae-myung. Since it was expressed in relation to President Lee Jae-myung, I wonder if there is any particular difference whether it's called New Lee Jae-myung, Old Lee Jae-myung, or Current Lee Jae-myung. I think dividing and fighting over that itself is rather pitiful.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: But expressions like that feel as though they do not respect the authority of the President, such as using the word 'head' or 'leader' of a faction.

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: That is a matter of political commentary and dignity on the part of the speaker.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: So you mean he is making remarks that lack dignity?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: I think he will judge that for himself.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Because there is also this: "Even a fishmonger's shop selling high-quality fish will inevitably emit a fishy odor," and "If you leave it alone without leveling any criticism or setting any limits, it will eventually emit a rotten stench." This implies that the current Lee Jae-myung administration is giving off a fishy odor, and if left alone, it will rot and emit a rotten stench. This connects back to the doomed-to-fail theory, doesn't it?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: It's a similar line of argument. The Lee Jae-myung administration's inevitable doomed-to-fail theory, rotten stench, ABC theory, and reconstruction theory all follow a similar stream of thought. That's why I think we have arrived at a crossroads where he must decide whether to stay in the realm of criticism and refereeing, or act as a player and cheerleader leader.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Meaning he should step directly into politics?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: If he goes to this extent, amid ongoing debates over prosecution reform and the primary for the Democratic Party leader and supreme council members, he is at a crossroads between staying in the realm of refereeing and commentary, or playing the role of a player and cheerleading captain. So I think he needs to make his stance clear. That's my thought. Furthermore, I view the Democratic Party as a very healthy party with strong self-cleansing capacity. So, if one apple in an apple box has rotted, I see our party's role as accurately removing that single apple through surgical precision so that all the remaining apples are preserved well for the public to enjoy.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Yes.

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: Basically, speaking under the premise that everything will rot in inevitable failure and rotten stench is not a very appropriate expression. Although former Minister Rhyu Si-min says he wishes for President Lee Jae-myung's success and hopes his own prediction of inevitable defeat turns out wrong, he continues to argue in a way that seems to hope his doomed-to-fail theory is proven right. This is deeply concerning, and I think it needs to be restrained. Otherwise, the time may come for him to enter and play the role of a player and cheerleader rather than staying in the realm of referee and critic, which makes me very worried.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: It seems like you feel he wants his own arguments and hypotheses to turn out correct. Representative, this isn't just a one- or two-time occurrence for writer Rhyu Si-min; it's persistent. He is scheduled to appear live on MBC Radio tonight, so it will likely come up again. What do you think is the reason behind his persistent actions? There must be an intention.

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: I think former Minister Rhyu Si-min is angry.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: About what?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: About various things.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Like "Why didn't you invite me to the Blue House?" Something like that?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: I wouldn't know about that, but he is angry, and over time that anger seems to have built up into an illness, and the illness seems to be worsening.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: What happens if the illness worsens?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: Proper diagnosis and prescription must be made. So I believe the Democratic Party can accept criticism and commentary on areas where it falls short, and healthy awareness of those issues should be utilized to build solutions. I am also contemplating how we should analyze and respond to the core points raised by former Minister Rhyu Si-min. However, because his words and language are coming out far too excessively and harshly, there are concerns about whether this is still within the realm of criticism and refereeing, or if this is the final transition into the realm of a player and cheerleader. I want to convey that many Democratic Party members and citizens are watching this with great worry.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: It seems like he wants his own claims and hypotheses to turn out to be right. This morning, I saw an analytical article in the Chosun Ilbo. I don't know if you read it, but the main content was this: Why is writer Rhyu Si-min acting like this? It's because of the cancellation of the President's indictment. If candidate Kim Min-seok is elected, he will cancel the indictment, and as seen in the recent local elections, that would adversely affect the general and presidential elections and ruin the Democratic Party; because he thinks the President will push through the cancellation of the indictment. That's why he is doing this, according to some within the Democratic Party as reported in the article. How do you view that?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: I am deeply grateful to former Minister Rhyu Si-min for worrying about the Democratic Party's political schedule and victory or defeat 2 or 4 years down the road. However, in that process, the Democratic Party's lawmakers, healthy party members, and many people have the capability and ability to make rational decisions to navigate the political situation. Using that premise to criticize or condemn President Lee Jae-myung and attacking those who stand with him using such excessive language will not be of much help in preventing such a situation.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Do you think the President should invite writer Rhyu Si-min to the Blue House for a meal to soothe and console him, telling him to stop? Or is it better to leave it alone?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: In my view, I don't think it's an issue of that domain.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: That line has already been crossed?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: I don't think former Minister Rhyu Si-min or the Blue House views this as a problem to be solved in that manner.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: So you mean this cannot be solved by human warmth, comforting, or sharing a meal. You view it as a power struggle?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: In my view, this is not a matter of that nature, so hearing each other's opinions, evaluating them, and coming up with alternatives is the appropriate approach for now. It is not something that will be resolved by doing that.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Then will you just leave the attacks against the President unchecked? These aren't attacks from the opposition, but from within the camp.

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: That's why I think the time has come for former Minister Rhyu Si-min to reflect on his own role and think from a perspective of putting oneself in another's shoes about what approach would truly help the victory, unity, and success of the democratic-progressive camp and the Democratic Party. As I said at first, he is standing at a choice and judgment crossroads between remaining in the domain of referee and critic, or transitioning to the role of a player and cheerleading captain.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Meaning he should rather just join as a player? Understood. In any case, you're saying the Blue House is not in a position to use either a stick or a carrot right now.

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: I don't think it's a situation to choose or do something like that right now.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Understood. Representative, then will the supplementary investigative authority be completely abolished? Do you think the deliberation mentioned by the President has been fully carried out?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: A general meeting of lawmakers is scheduled for tomorrow as well. We plan to hold lengthy discussions at tomorrow's general meeting of lawmakers, and we discussed it the day before yesterday too. I consider it an ongoing process of discussion.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: But yesterday, Floor Leader Han Byung-do declared complete abolition.

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: The floor leader was expressing his own thoughts.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Is that so?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: Through the general meeting of lawmakers, there are lawmakers' views on those thoughts, as well as matters regarding how to conduct policy debates. I think a conclusion will be reached through the 1st Subcommittee and the plenary meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee after sufficiently gathering opinions and holding discussions.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: So you're saying there is still some leeway left?

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: Isn't there sincerity in the arguments of those who spoke about supplementary investigative authority in the Criminal Procedure Act? Protecting human rights, preventing giant evils and major crimes from being buried or concealed, issues like the Jang Yoon-ki case, and yesterday's warrant rejection incident at the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office show that conflicts between the prosecution and police continue to yield problems. Then, how should we supplement these issues as we separate the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and Public Prosecution Office this time and revise the Criminal Procedure Act? A very meticulous measure is needed. I believe the discussion will converge toward that kind of safeguard.

[Anchor] Kim Tae-hyun: Understood. We will end it here today. That was Representative Kim Young-jin of the Democratic Party of Korea. Thank you.

[Representative] Kim Young-jin: Thank you.

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※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.