Kim Du-kwan: "Not the Authoritarian Leader Type of the Democratic Party"... Direct Hit on Lee Jae-myung

Democratic Party Leadership Election
Kim, Will He Cause a Rift in the 'Eodaemyeong' Consensus?

Lee Jae-myung, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has officially declared his bid for re-election, while Kim Doo-kwan, a former Democratic Party lawmaker known as the "original pro-Roh (pro-Roh Moo-hyun faction)," has emerged as a rival candidate. Kim criticized, saying, "I can no longer watch the collapse of the Democratic Party, which is heading toward a 'Lee Jae-myung one-man regime.'"

Former Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Du-kwan. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 11th, Kim appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' and said, "Looking at the nomination process in the last general election and the recent amendments to our party's rules and regulations, party members feel that the leader is 'imperialistic,'" adding, "It seems that there is a strong tendency toward a one-person party." He continued, "In the party leader election, three candidates including youth candidate Kim Ji-soo ran, but for the Supreme Council member positions, thirteen candidates ran, and all of them emphasize how close they are to Leader Lee Jae-myung," and said, "Seeing them claim 'We will make him president' seems to be a proof of that."

Regarding criticism that only pro-Lee (pro-Lee Jae-myung faction) candidates are running for Supreme Council member positions, he said, "The purpose of electing five Supreme Council members is to gather diverse voices within the party, but if all five are of one color, why elect Supreme Council members?" He pointed out, "This shows the current state of the Democratic Party's decline, which worries many people."

When asked if there are any lawmakers or factions actively supporting Kim within the party, he replied, "Among the non-parliamentary committee chairpersons, quite a few have said they would support me, but I don't think it's necessary to make it public now," adding, "Recently, many lawmakers have called me, and some said they would support me, but I told them not to."

When asked if this was due to concerns about being attacked by hardline party members if they publicly support Kim, he said, "Isn't that concern quite valid? That is the current situation of our party," adding, "The hardline party members would go even further."

Regarding some hardline party members labeling Kim as a so-called "subak" (a derogatory term for non-pro-Lee figures), he said, "‘Subak’ is a typical classification used among Lee Jae-myung supporters," emphasizing, "I believe the Democratic Party should return to the spirit of the party, not the subak debate." He also said, "A 'one-person party' and an imperialistic leader are never the image of the Democratic Party, so I believe the current party sentiment is to move toward a Democratic Party that wins through diversity, dynamism, and solidarity."

During the participatory government era, Kim, who served as mayor of Namhae County in Gyeongnam and was appointed Minister of the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs (now Ministry of the Interior and Safety) by former President Roh, was also called the "Little Roh Moo-hyun." Kim is scheduled to visit former President Moon Jae-in in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, on the day. The day before, he paid respects at the grave of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun and met with Kwon Yang-sook. This is interpreted as a message that, as a "legitimate heir" of the pro-Roh (pro-Roh Moo-hyun) and pro-Moon (pro-Moon Jae-in) factions marginalized after the pro-Lee faction took control of the party, he is entering the party leadership race. At the same time, it is seen as an intention to firmly establish the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam (PK) region, where Lee’s support base is weak, as his own power base and expand his scope as a party leadership contender.