Kim Du-gwan, Decision to Run After Deep Deliberation
"Not Concerned About Low Approval Ratings"
Former Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Du-kwan emphasized that the 'Lee Jae-myung one-man system' does not help in regaining power, stating, "The identity of our Democratic Party is diversity and dynamism." Kim announced his candidacy to compete against former party leader Lee Jae-myung, who is seeking re-election in the August 18 party leadership election.
On the 10th, Kim appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and explained his reason for running in the party leadership election amid the 'Eodaemyeong' (Anyway, the leader is Lee Jae-myung) atmosphere, saying, "We cannot achieve regime change with just 35% support," and added that a one-man dominant system does not help expand the moderate base.
Former National Assembly member Kim Du-kwan is making a speech on the afternoon of the 9th, when he declared his candidacy for the Democratic Party of Korea's party leader, at the National May 18th Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News
Regarding media reports that senior Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ji-won discouraged him from running for party leader, Kim said, "There is a considerable difference in how the conversation between Park and me was conveyed," adding, "There were many conversations mixed with concerns about various other internal party situations, and he advised me, out of care, that it might be better to prepare and run next time rather than this time, asking how I intend to bear the Democratic Party's cross."
Kim also cited a scene from the movie Assassination, saying, "Shouldn't someone let people know that there are those fighting for independence? My feelings are the same," and explained, "If anyone fights for independence, that fight itself is the path to independence. With this thought, I decided to run."
Currently, there is a gap of more than 20 percentage points between Kim and former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung in approval ratings. According to a poll conducted by Hangil Research, a professional polling agency, commissioned by Cookie News from the 6th to the 8th among 1,000 adults aged 18 and over nationwide, when asked about the 'suitability for next Democratic Party leader,' Kim received 18.1%, while Lee received 42.9%.
In response, Kim said, "I do not mind. I have a responsibility to represent even 1% of a different voice," and added, "I came out of concern for the future of our party, so even if I receive only 1%, I consider it a success and will face it with confidence and determination."
Meanwhile, the survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire through a combination of landline telephone interviews (6.8%) and wireless ARS (93.2%). The response rate was 4.7%, with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. The sample was randomly drawn from a landline and wireless telephone RDD sample frame, and statistical adjustments were made by applying weights based on gender, age, and region according to the resident registration population data from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety as of the end of March 2023. For more details, please refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.
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