[Comprehensive] Geum Tae-seop Hints at Independent Candidacy... ruling party says "The Resignation Letter Ink Isn't Even Dry Yet"

Park Yong-jin "You speak too easily about the party you belonged to"
Kim Nam-guk "Not qualified for Seoul mayor but qualified to join the People Power Party"
Kim Jong-min "You can't succeed in politics if you act impulsively"

Former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, who left the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving a lecture at the 'Myeongbulheojeon' meeting of first-term lawmakers of the People Power Party at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 18th. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, who left the Democratic Party, expressed on the 23rd his intention to run as an independent candidate in next year's Seoul mayoral by-election. However, the ruling party criticized this, saying "the resignation letter's ink hasn't even dried yet." It is pointed out that it is too early for former Democratic Party member Geum to compete against the Democratic Party.

On the same day, Geum appeared on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" and said about the possibility of running for next year's Seoul mayoral by-election, "I have been reviewing it with a sense of responsibility," adding, "I think it is time to discuss with you all and make a decision now."

He continued, "Next year's Seoul mayoral election has a very political nature," and reiterated his intention to run by saying, "If there is a role to play, I will take responsibility." Earlier, on the 18th, Geum hinted at the possibility of running in the by-election during a lecture at the National Assembly Members' Office Building hosted by the People Power Party study group.

Regarding the recent controversy over his son's property donation, Geum said, "I paid all the gift taxes, including those for helping with my child's gift tax," emphasizing, "The donation occurred in 2015 before I became a member of the National Assembly, and since then, I have disclosed all my assets for four years and went through the Democratic Party's verification and nomination process. (The Democratic Party) knows everything."

As Geum hinted at the possibility of running in the by-election, criticism arose from the ruling party. It is pointed out that it is too early to immediately enter politics after submitting a resignation letter to the Democratic Party, with not much time having passed.

Park Yong-jin, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker / Photo by Yonhap News

Park Yong-jin, a Democratic Party lawmaker classified as a "principled faction" along with Geum, said in an interview with MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" on the same day, "It seems a bit early for (Geum) to already be considering running for Seoul mayor," adding, "Whether it is Geum Tae-seop or anyone else, if they criticize the Democratic Party, it is necessary to take it seriously, but even if they left with bad feelings, it is inappropriate to speak too easily about the party they belonged to."

He continued, "Although I was close to and liked the politician, if he runs as a competing candidate against the Democratic Party, he should be criticized and competed against," he emphasized.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party appears to be continuously "attacking Geum Tae-seop" after he attended a lecture at an opposition party lawmakers' meeting.

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-guk pointed out on his Facebook on the 19th that Geum's two sons each hold shares in housing worth over 1.6 billion won, saying, "(Geum) does not qualify to be Seoul mayor, but definitely qualifies to join the People Power Party," and criticized, "He strongly talks about a fair society to other young people, but helped his own children to hold shares in luxury villas and several hundred million won in cash."

Jeong Cheong-rae, Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

There are also forecasts that Geum's political base is weak, making it difficult for him to perform well in next year's by-election. Democratic Party lawmaker Jung Cheong-rae said on Facebook that "If Geum Tae-seop runs as the People Power Party's Seoul mayor candidate, it will be an easy game," adding, "We can just field lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, who overwhelmingly won the primary against him."

Fellow party member Kim Jong-min said in a radio interview on the 20th, targeting Geum, "It is not a matter to nitpick about a politician running for election," but pointed out, "He was attacked and criticized by party members, but if he starts politics out of resentment toward Democratic Party members and by attacking the Democratic Party, it is not desirable."

He added, "There have been quite a few cases where politics started out of anger," emphasizing, "None of them have ever succeeded."