Kim Min-seok, a former Prime Minister and candidate for the Democratic Party leadership, stated that if he is elected party leader at the August 17 national convention, he will establish an internal party organization the very next day to promote the integration and solidarity of the democratic camp and expand its reach toward the center.

Appearing on the show "Humility is Hard, News Factory," hosted by Kim Ou-joon, today (July 8), Kim said, "If we do not do this, we cannot win the general election."

He continued, "The Democratic Party has always integrated when temporary divisions occurred, and are we not 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 of these things simultaneously."

When asked if the Rebuilding Korea Party is a target for integration, he replied, "That is something the Innovation Party must decide," adding, "When forces with the same character combine with the Democratic Party, which is a massive party with responsibilities, they are all absorbed through a merger."

He also remarked, "As the party's spectrum broadens, there is a significant base within our party that cannot be persuaded by conventional theories of democratic harmony," adding, "I believe very delicate and sincere deliberation is required."

Regarding the method of pursuing a merger with the Innovation Party attempted by former representative Jung, he pointed out, "It was done in a 'bomb-shell announcement' style, which ruined the process," and added, "It was excessive ambition. I believe that is why things got tangled."

In response to criticism from former representative Jung Chung-rae, who claimed that Kim's "aspiration to be party leader is just his own personal politics," Kim said, "If that is the only example they can point to, I am grateful, as it means they are acknowledging that I have hardly engaged in personal politics."

Targeting the tenure of former representative Jung, he remarked, "When a cabinet meeting ended, there was no sense that things were being organized within one or two hours, with a clear direction that 'the ruling party must push this forward through laws and policies.'"

He emphasized, "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 is truly a frightening situation," and added, "The party must grit its teeth and stop the decline in approval ratings."

He continued, "Some people ask if the party will divide after the national convention, but that is nonsense and a very idle concern," stating, "We must hold the convention passionately and then unite to support the President."

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

"I have never once thought about becoming Prime Minister myself," he said, adding, "When someone asked, 'Did you ever recommend writer Rhyu Si-min (as Prime Minister)?' I replied, 'That is correct.'"

Writer Rhyu recently caused a stir by advocating for a so-called "reconstruction theory" and criticizing the expansionist path of President Lee Jae-myung.

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

In response to the criticism that "former representative 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 who are holding important responsibilities in the first year of a (presidential) term to be thinking about what they will do afterward."

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

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

(Photo: Yonhap News)