Kim Yong-min: "Gaeddal Texts Are Just and Righteous... Lee Jae-myung Is 'Irreplaceable'"

Pro-Ming faction lawmaker Kim Yong-min of the Democratic Party of Korea defended the fact that the strong supporters of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader, known as Gaeddal (Daughters of Reform), are sending 'text message bombs' to lawmakers and conducting a search operation after a 'mass defection vote' occurred in the arrest motion against Lee. He said, "It is something that can naturally be done."

On the 2nd, Kim said on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' "The anger and disappointment felt by party members are very legitimate and just."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He said, "That (defection vote) is a betrayal by the lawmakers. They may have betrayed their own beliefs, or they may have betrayed the current era's tasks and responsibilities they hold," adding, "It is natural for party members to go through a process of confirming or raising issues about those who have betrayed such things."

However, there are criticisms that such 'search operations' violate the principle of individual conscience voting stipulated in secret ballots. Regarding this, Kim said, "It's a different issue," and added, "They should take responsibility for their own votes."

He then directly criticized, "If these people truly had convictions, they should have at least expressed their convictions at the party meeting," and called it "a very cowardly attitude."

Some non-Ming faction lawmakers have also raised concerns about whether the next general election can be fought under Lee Jae-myung's banner. In response, Kim said, "If the party's support base is completely divided and fighting, the party could be shaken, but the support base is united," and "in this state, I believe it is much more stable and desirable to hold the general election."

While some voices call for finding a 'new focal point' to replace Lee, Kim dismissed this, saying, "There is no one who can replace Lee," and added, "We must boldly reform and renew the party to create a completely new Democratic Party, and through that, we must make a process to win the next general election."

He also pointed out that only the non-Ming faction's cards were revealed during the voting process on the arrest motion. Kim said, "If they intended to shake the leader Lee or use his leadership to secure nomination rights or establish new leadership within the party, they should have voted in favor. They only exposed their own cards," adding, "They will naturally prepare for the next warrant request or any incident, and the possibility of blocking such attempts again is very high."