Luxury Bag Controversy... Kim Kyung-yul "We Have to Take the Beating and Go to the General Election"

Regarding President Yoon Suk-yeol's New Year's interview statement on the controversy over First Lady Kim Geon-hee's luxury bag, Kim Kyung-yul, a member of the People Power Party's emergency committee, said, "From now on, we have no choice but to take the hits."

Handonghun, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is seen clenching his fist while hugging Emergency Response Committee member Kim Kyung-yul at the Seoul City Party's New Year's meeting held at Catertle in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 17th of last month.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 9th, Kim appeared on CBS Radio's 'Park Jae-hong's One-on-One Battle' and said, "I'm not sure if it's because people see it as too much of a vertical relationship, but it would be good if the father apologized, but he couldn't do that," adding, "Now the son has to (willingly) take the hits and endure the remaining days until the general election." "Rather than me telling the presidential office to say to President Yoon, 'Apologize, apologize, apologize,' I think I should be the one to take the hits, apologize, and do what needs to be done," he also said.

He stated, "Even if my work and the presidential office's work are different, and the party's and Yongsan's positions differ, if this is an issue we have to carry from now on, and if the party deems it necessary, I think I should be the first to apologize to the public at their level," adding, "I think the People Power Party leadership should apologize now as well."

Regarding his declaration not to run in the general election, he said, "Many senior figures and progressive academics have supported me. I am truly sorry to them and the residents of Mapo-gu," adding, "Although many unexpected people sent messages of support, please understand that I was not fully prepared and ultimately gave up on the election."

Furthermore, "Whenever my name comes up, it's always 'Sacheon, Sacheon,' which puts some burden on our party and also burdens Emergency Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon’s activities. If this kind of burden keeps increasing and interferes with various activities, if I have to give up one of the two, then giving up running is the right choice," he said.

When asked if he was close with Chairman Han, he replied, "I am not someone capable enough to be by Chairman Han's side, so I am not as close an aide as people think."