Why Governor Kim Dong-yeon Brought Up the 'Kim Kyung-soo Lottery' Card

Preliminary Moves Considering Mobilization of the Screaming Faction
Justifying Efforts to Mediate Ruling Party Conflicts
Ministry of Justice to Select Special Pardon and Reinstatement Candidates on the Afternoon of the 8th

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon urged the government to reinstate former Gyeongnam Province Governor Kim Kyung-soo ahead of the government's special pardon for Liberation Day. Governor Kim argued that the government should implement politics of 'national unity' on the occasion of Kim Kyung-soo's reinstatement. In political circles, it is seen as a preliminary move by Governor Kim to consolidate the anti-Lee Jae-myung faction centered around former Governor Kim.

On the afternoon of the 8th, the Ministry of Justice will select candidates for the August 15 Liberation Day special pardon and reinstatement through the Pardon Review Committee at the Gwacheon Government Complex. Former Gyeongnam Province Governor Kim Kyung-soo, who was sentenced to two years in prison for the so-called Druking comment manipulation case during the 19th presidential election and served his sentence, is also mentioned as a major candidate for reinstatement. Former Governor Kim was released on December 27, 2022, under a New Year's pardon with a suspension of the remaining sentence, but reinstatement was not granted. Reinstatement restores qualifications or rights lost due to sentencing, with the key point being the restoration of eligibility to run for election.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon answering reporters' questions
(Suwon=Yonhap News) Reporter Hong Gi-won = Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is answering reporters' questions at the '2024 Main Budget Briefing' held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do on the morning of the 6th. 2023.11.6
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If Kim Kyung-soo, known as a successor of the pro-Roh (pro-Roh Moo-hyun) and pro-Moon (pro-Moon Jae-in) factions, is reinstated, he could unite the anti-Lee faction as a leading opposition figure in alliance with Governor Kim. The appointment of former lawmaker Jeon Hae-cheol, a core member of the pro-Moon faction, as an advisory committee chairman for Gyeonggi Province is also interpreted as an extension of efforts to consolidate the anti-Lee faction.

The government and ruling party are likely to assess the political benefits of reinstating former Governor Kim. The 'Kim Kyung-soo reinstatement' card could trigger factional competition within the opposition. Even within the pro-Lee faction of the Democratic Party, there is keen attention to whether Kim Kyung-soo will be reinstated. Jeong Seong-ho, a leading figure of the pro-Lee faction and Democratic Party lawmaker, expressed concern that "(Kim Kyung-soo's reinstatement) could be used as a card to divide the opposition."

Kim Kyung-soo Returns to Attend Memorial Service for Former President Roh Moo-hyun
(Yeongjongdo=Yonhap News) Reporter Lim Hwayoung = Kim Kyung-soo, former governor of Gyeongnam, who is studying in the UK, is returning to Korea through Incheon International Airport on the 19th to attend the memorial service for former President Roh Moo-hyun. 2024.5.19
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However, from the ruling party's perspective, there is also the possibility of a backlash, so they are taking a cautious stance. As of now, the Democratic Party is known not to have made any official petitions for Kim Kyung-soo's reinstatement. If the government and ruling party proceed with reinstatement despite weak justification, they could face criticism that it is intended to divide the opposition.

On the other hand, from Governor Kim Dong-yeon's standpoint, even if reinstatement does not occur, he can claim credit for trying to mediate conflicts between the two major parties. This is why he emphasized that it must align with President Yoon Seok-youl's principles of fairness, common sense, and national unity. Political commentator Hwang Tae-soon said, "The possibility of Kim Kyung-soo's reinstatement seems quite low," adding, "Without a petition from the Democratic Party, the government and ruling party will likely judge that reinstating him could do more harm than good."