Kim Du-kwan, a candidate for the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leadership, stated on the 19th regarding the perjury coaching case involving candidate Lee Jae-myung, who is currently on trial, "Although it is being kept quiet within the party, there are many concerns that this could become a problem."
On the same day, Kim said on YTN radio, "Since the outcome of the trial cannot be predicted, I think we are at a critical juncture."
He added, "If found guilty, it would be a burden on the party as well as a significant burden on former leader Lee Jae-myung himself," and "Since this could also turn into a blessing in disguise, we should wait and see the trial results rather than making a judgment now."
Despite the judicial risks, Kim predicted that the election would be favorable to candidate Lee. He explained, "Looking at the polls, it’s about 9 (Lee Jae-myung) to 1 (Kim Du-kwan). The party leadership election rules allocate 56% to party members with voting rights, 14% to delegates, and 30% to general public opinion polls. Since the general public opinion polls target only our party supporters or independents, it is very advantageous for candidate Lee."
Democratic Party of Korea leader candidate Kim Du-gwan is giving a greeting at the Democratic Party of Korea leader candidate debate held on the 18th at the CBS building in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group
Kim also said that if candidate Lee is elected as the next party leader, he would have the authority to exercise nomination rights for the 2026 local elections. He explained, "There is a calculation that by completing the nominations for the next local elections and appointing heads of local governments with his own people, he aims to head into the presidential election."
He added, "Recently, the party constitution and regulations were changed by the Central Committee to allow exceptions in special circumstances. When the amendments to the party constitution and regulations were finalized, all media outlets labeled it as a ‘great man’s sermon for Lee Jae-myung.’"
Kim predicted that this completed ‘pro-Lee unipolar system’ would ultimately be the cause of election defeat. He said, "We have always won only when the diversity and dynamism, which are the lifeblood of the Democratic Party, are alive," and "Since we are narrowing our own position, I believe that both the local elections and the presidential election will not be easy if we continue this way."
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