Kim Hong-gul Declares Candidacy for Seoul Gangseo-gap... "A Region Where DJ Spirit Lives On"

Declaration of Candidacy for 'Gangseo-gap' in the Same Party as Kang Seon-woo
"Gangseo-gu is a District Where the Spirit of Kim Dae-jung Lives"
"Judging the Incompetent Regime... Asking for Understanding from Party Members and Comrades"

Kim Hong-gul, the third son of the late former President Kim Dae-jung and a proportional representative member of the Democratic Party of Korea, declared on the 6th that he will run for the Seoul Gangseo-gap district in next year's general election.

At a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office on the same day, Kim Hong-gul said, "I will run in Gangseo-gap to overwhelmingly judge the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and become a problem solver who finally resolves the long-standing issues of Gangseo-gu." Seoul Gangseo-gap is the constituency of fellow party member Kang Sun-woo, who was elected after defeating Geum Tae-seop, the representative of the New Choice Party Preparatory Committee, in the 21st general election primary.

Kim Hong-gul, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

Kim said, "In the Gangseo-gu mayoral by-election, I saw that the 'Kim Dae-jung spirit' lives in the hearts of the people of Gangseo-gu," adding, "The courage to reject arrogant power is alive, and the conscience to reject injustice is alive." He then promised, "I will solve the long-standing issue of 'height restriction regulations' in Gangseo-gu." He cited his experience working on the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee throughout the 21st National Assembly term, dealing with height restriction issues entangled with diplomatic relations. In particular, he emphasized, "There is an overseas network established since the Kim Dae-jung administration," and "We need at least one diplomatic expert to solve the height restriction problem."

He also made remarks seemingly directed at the incumbent Gangseo-gap member Kang Sun-woo. Kim said, "Running in Gangseo-gu is a new challenge for me, but party comrades preparing for the election might find it awkward," and "I sincerely ask for the understanding of my comrades regarding the somewhat late announcement of my candidacy." He added, "We can unite more strongly and achieve victory together."

Kim also sharply criticized the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. He said, "The Yoon Seok-yeol government is a second Jeon Du-hwan new military regime, wielding prosecutors like private organizations and ruling through fear," and "The Yoon administration is a second Rhee Syngman government, thoroughly incompetent in livelihood, economy, and security, shamelessly abandoning national interests and boasting a submissive diplomacy toward Japan, like a second Joseon Governor-General's Office."

Right after his candidacy announcement, when asked by reporters if he had no ties to the Gangseo-gu area, Kim replied, "I can't say I have deep ties, but Seoul can be seen as one constituency in a way," adding, "There are many people in Gangseo-gu whom I know well and who can be helpful, and I received many invitations to run from them. I decided on Gangseo-gu because of what I felt while supporting the recent by-election."

Regarding running in Mapo-eul, where the late President Kim Dae-jung's residence is located, he said, "Mapo-eul is where my father lived, but that alone is not enough to call it a tie," and "I would have to compete against an incumbent in a primary, and starting late puts me at a disadvantage, so I can't say Gangseo-gap is an easy place."