Kim Kyung-soo to Lee Jae-myung: "Principles of Unity and Inclusion Must Be Implemented First Within the Democratic Party"

Lee Jae-myung Posts on Facebook Before Visiting Moon Jae-in
"Apologize and Reflect on Insults to Roh Moo-hyun and Disparagement of Moon Jae-in"
"Abandon the One-Polar System and Party Privatization"
"Apologize to Those Who Left the Party and Bring Them Back"

Former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo on the 29th targeted the Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung and the pro-Lee faction, pointing out insults and disparaging remarks made against former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in during the last general election, demanding apology and reflection.

Former Governor Kim Kyung-soo of Gyeongnam Province. Yonhap News

Kim, regarded as the successor of the pro-Moon (pro-Moon Jae-in) faction, stated on Facebook that day in a post titled "Let's Untie the Knots of the Past and Move Forward Together," "We must give the people who trusted Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in with national governance the confidence that the current Democratic Party is also a democratic and responsible party capable of managing the government again."

Kim said, "The various public opinion poll indicators that fail to overwhelm the internal rebellion forces present us with a significant challenge," adding, "We must read the hearts of the people and find responsibility and causes within ourselves."

Regarding Lee Jae-myung's recent stance opposing political retaliation, Kim said, "(Leader Lee) emphasized that the core responsibility and duty of the ruling power is integration and inclusion," and added, "I share the same view."

In this post, Kim specifically listed four principles. He pointed out, "Many people have distanced themselves or left the party in disgrace during the local elections and general elections held after the 2022 presidential election," and said, "We must sincerely apologize and make it possible for them to return willingly."

He also said, "Regarding the insults against former President Roh Moo-hyun and the unilateral disparagement of former President Moon Jae-in, not only the reflection and apology of the speakers but also party-level efforts to prevent recurrence are necessary," adding, "We ourselves must adopt a strict and balanced attitude toward the achievements and failures of the previous administration to unite the hearts of supporters."

Furthermore, he emphasized, "It is neither right nor desirable to shift the responsibility for the last presidential election defeat onto each other within the party," and said, "Blaming only specific individuals like a witch hunt will only cause regression, never progress."

He continued, "A political culture that listens to voices of criticism and opposition is the way to prove that we are different from them," urging, "We must start changing the internal political culture now to discard the painful names of a one-polar system and party privatization."

Meanwhile, on the last day of the Lunar New Year holiday, the 30th, Leader Lee will visit Pyeongsan Village in Yangsan City, Gyeongnam, to pay respects to former President Moon.