Kim Nam-guk, Invitation to Join Jo-guk Innovation Party? Jo-guk Party "Contacted Only Hwang Un-ha"

Kim claims "Received recruitment offer" on YouTube
Hwang Hyun-seon Secretary General "Not true" direct rebuttal

Independent lawmaker Kim Nam-guk denied claims that he received a recruitment offer from the Jojuk Innovation Party during the last general election period, with the party publicly refuting the claim as "not true." In response, Kim stated, "I wonder if it was really necessary to formally refute something I said casually on YouTube."

Hwang Hyun-seon, Secretary-General of the Jojuk Innovation Party, said on his social media on the 11th, "During the founding process of the Jojuk Innovation Party, there was an opinion to recruit several incumbent lawmakers, including those from the Democratic Party," but added, "However, Representative Jojuk did not accept that opinion." He further stated, "Only Representative Hwang Un-ha was directly contacted by Representative Jojuk with a recruitment proposal."

On March 28, at the stairway in front of the National Assembly main building, Representative Kim Nam-guk is holding a 'All-in' sign at the Democratic Party of Korea's general election victory kickoff rally.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Hwang, who was sentenced to three years in prison in the first trial for the Moon Jae-in administration's interference in the Ulsan mayoral election, left the Democratic Party on March 8, before the general election, and joined the Jojuk Innovation Party. Earlier, he had declared he would not run for re-election in his constituency, Daejeon Jung-gu, citing judicial risk concerns. However, after joining the Jojuk Innovation Party, he successfully won re-election as a proportional representative.

On the 10th, in an interview with JTBC YouTube channel 'Genre Only Yeouido,' Kim was asked, "What would you do if both camps (Lee Jae-myung and Jojuk) invited you during a future presidential election?" He replied, "I already received a recruitment offer from the Jojuk Innovation Party during the last general election." He added, "I thought I might have a chance to run if I left, but I declined the offer within 10 minutes," explaining, "I had the opportunity but did not take it because I wanted to keep my promise not to run." He also said, "I will not leave the Democratic Party." Kim, who left the Democratic Party amid the 'coin controversy,' joined the Democratic Party's proportional satellite party, the Together Democratic Union, and after the general election, merged back into the Democratic Party, returning to the party.

Kim: "Was it really necessary to formally refute something said casually?"

Regarding the Jojuk Innovation Party's public rebuttal, Kim expressed disappointment on his social media and explained the situation when he received the candidacy offer. On the same day, Kim began his post by saying, "I wonder if it was really necessary to formally refute something I said casually on YouTube." He said, "I was not alone at the initial offer meeting; four related people were present. When I said I had no intention to run for various reasons, they asked me to come on the premise of not running regardless of candidacy, so I declined and left the meeting, which I recall took about 10 minutes."

He continued, "The person who made the offer had some representative authority, and one of the people present was recruited by Representative Jojuk as talent, so I think it was not just a joke." He added, "After that, responsible members of the Jojuk Innovation Party tried to persuade me by contacting me separately, and many party members also contacted me urging me to join and run."