Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said, "If the People Power Party truly claims to inherit the spirit of former President Kim Young-sam, they should kick out Lee Jin-sook; otherwise, take down the former president's photo from the party leader's office."

Attending the opening ceremony for lawmaker Park Hong-bae's local office in Sasang-gu, Busan, today (the 29th), leader Kim made the remarks while repeatedly urging the expulsion of lawmaker Park, who has been embroiled in controversy over a seminar re-examining the May 18 democratization movement.

Kim criticized, "President Kim Young-sam established the inheritance of the spirit of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement as the most important achievement of his civilian government and made it the identity of his administration. Isn't the People Power Party, which currently hangs his photo, embracing Lee Jin-sook, who goes beyond opposing the May 18 spirit to completely crush it?"

He added, "If the former president were here today, he would think, 'If it's about being close, it's actually the Democratic Party that fits better, and the People Power Party is not it at all.'"

Kim also underscored the political symbolism of Busan and steeled his determination for victory in the next general election.

"Busan is a traditional sanctuary of democracy and a traditional opposition stronghold," he said, giving meaning to the fact that "the Democratic Party has produced three presidents here."

He then asked, "Then why is the Democratic Party not the mainstream?" and answered, "It is because we did something wrong back when you swept the mayors, district chiefs, metropolitan councilors, and basic councilors in the 2018 local elections."

He went on to define the election of Jeon Jae-soo as Busan mayor in the June 3 local elections as "the last chance given to us by the citizens of Busan," emphasizing, "We will prepare for the Busan general election two years from now with a humble yet very challenging attitude."

He also stressed, "Other places aside, I will directly oversee the elections in both Seoul and Busan. It may look humble at the start, but it will be an immensely magnificent finish and our greatest victory in Busan."

(Photo: Yonhap News)