Kim Min-seok Criticizes Jung Chung-rae Again on Kim Ou-joon's Show: "Overambition Complicated Matters"

Kim Min-seok, a former Prime Minister and a candidate for the Democratic Party's leadership, stated that if elected as party leader at the August 17 national convention, he would immediately establish an internal party body the following day to promote the integration and solidarity of the democratic camp and expand its reach to the center.

Appearing today (July 8) on the program "Humility is Hard, News Factory," hosted by Kim Ou-joon, a broadcaster with significant influence over pro-ruling party supporters, Kim said, "We cannot win the general election without doing this."

He continued, "The Democratic Party has integrated whenever there was a temporary split, and we are currently in solidarity with the Progressive Party, the Basic Income Party, and the Social Democratic Party. Furthermore, after taking power with the National Congress for New Politics, we created the Millennium Democratic Party and recruited a large number of centrist and conservative figures; this is expansion," emphasizing, "We must do all three simultaneously."

When asked if the Rebuilding Korea Party is a target for integration, he replied, "That is for the Rebuilding Korea Party to decide," adding, "When forces with the same character combine with the Democratic Party, which is a massive party with responsibilities, it is always an absorption merger."

He also noted, "As the party's spectrum widens, there is a significant base within our party that cannot be persuaded by conventional arguments for democratic grand harmony," adding, "I believe very delicate and sincere deliberation is required."

Regarding the method of pursuing a merger with the Rebuilding Korea Party attempted by former leader Jung, he pointed out, "It was done in a 'bombshell' style, which ruined things," adding, "It was overambition. I believe that is why things became complicated."

In response to former leader Jung Chung-rae's criticism that Kim's "ambition to be party leader is just personal politics," Kim said, "If that is the only example they can point to, I am grateful, as it means they have evaluated that I have hardly engaged in personal politics."

Taking aim at Jung's tenure, he remarked, "After a cabinet meeting, there was no sense that things were being organized within an hour or two, with the feeling that 'the ruling party must push this forward through laws and policies.'"

He emphasized, "The two locomotives (the party and the government) must run while competing in speed," adding, "A new sense of autonomous tension must be created within the party."

Regarding the results of the June 3 local elections, Kim said, "For a few days (after the election), I was afraid. It was truly a frightening situation," adding, "The party must grit its teeth and stop the decline in approval ratings."

He stated, "Some say the party will split after the national convention, but that is nonsense and a very idle conversation," adding, "We must hold a spirited convention and then unite to support the President."

Kim also revealed that he had once recommended author Rhyu Si-min for the position of Prime Minister.

He said, "I have never thought about becoming Prime Minister myself," adding, "When someone asked, 'Have you ever recommended author Rhyu Si-min (as Prime Minister)?' I replied, 'That is correct.'"

Author Rhyu recently caused a stir by advocating for a so-called "reconstruction theory," criticizing President Lee Jae-myung's route of expanding the party's reach.

Additionally, regarding the 2016 general election held under the "Kim Chong-in Emergency Response Committee" system, where former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, former leader Jung Chung-rae, and lawmaker Kim Hyun were cut off, he recalled, "I was so angry that I went to the National Assembly and met with lawmaker Kim Hyun," adding, "I have even publicly stated that it would be good for former leader Jung to serve as party leader one day."

Furthermore, in response to the criticism that "former leader Lee Nak-yon, a former Prime Minister, held the party leadership but failed to emerge as a presidential candidate," he replied, "It is absurd for people holding important responsibilities in the first year of a (presidential) term to think about what they will do next."

Regarding the offensive from the pro-Jung faction concerning his "absence from the vote to lift martial law," he clarified repeatedly, "I was one second late (for the vote)."

Kim Ou-joon released CCTV footage today recording the situation at the National Assembly on the day of the martial law declaration, confirming that Kim was indeed at the National Assembly at the time.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.