'K-uiwon' Kim Du-kwan, on Lee Jae-myung's resignation and rise theory: "Unfounded"

Kim Du-kwan, SBS Radio Interview
October Party Convention Rumor "Low Possibility"

Kim Du-kwan, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the 31st that the 'Lee Jae-myung October resignation rumor' circulating in some political circles is "completely unfounded."

The main content of the rumor about Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader's resignation, is that he will resign in October, followed by a party convention to elect a new leadership to prepare for next year's general election. This was conveyed by Jang Sung-chul, director of the Gongron Center, on MBC Radio on the 28th. Director Jang said that about 40 Democratic Party lawmakers agreed with this opinion, and a 'K lawmaker' was mentioned as the successor party leader.

Kim is the person identified as the 'K lawmaker' in this context. In an interview with SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' on the 31st, he said, "If such a big plan had been drawn up, it would have been officially rumored in Yeouido, but I have never heard of it," calling it a "happening."

Kim said, "There are recent issues related to judicial risks, but the party leadership is preparing to respond to them," and added, "The assumption of a party convention in October is not very likely."

Kim Du-gwan, member of the Democratic Party of Korea./Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

Regarding why he himself was identified as Lee's successor, Kim replied, "It is difficult for me to guess."

However, Kim explained, "Our party has a side where it is not easy to become the majority party in the general election with only victories in Honam and the metropolitan area," and added, "Because regional public opinion is not coming out as expected and it is not easy to win overwhelmingly in the metropolitan area like the last general election, there is some expectation of me in the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam (Bu-Ul-Gyeong) area, thinking that I have some appeal to the moderate voters."

Kim said, "In an interview, Lee once said in principle that if we do not win the general election next year, the future of the democratic progressive camp would be somewhat dark, and he himself would have no political future," and added, "I think the scenario was made based on such parts."

Regarding Lee's judicial risks, Kim said, "It is true that some lawmakers are worried about whether a motion for arrest consent will be submitted again to the National Assembly, linking Baekhyeon-dong and Ssangbangwool's North Korea remittance, but I am not very worried about other things," and added, "The prosecution has conducted various investigations for over a year and six months, but nothing has actually been revealed."