Kim Kyung-soo: "Yoo Seung-min and Sim Sang-jung discussed joining Moon administration but no actual offer... I apologize"

Apology via Social Media
"Korean-Style Coalition Government Is Necessary"

Former Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Kim Kyung-soo apologized for his remarks suggesting that former lawmakers Yoo Seung-min and Sim Sang-jung were considered for cabinet positions during the Moon Jae-in administration, clarifying that no actual proposals were made. Kim, who advocates for a Korean-style coalition government, admitted that he conveyed incorrect information while introducing the Moon administration's efforts toward impeachment alliances.

On the 18th, Kim stated via social media (SNS), "Upon rechecking the facts, the Moon Jae-in administration reviewed multiple opposition politicians as candidates for cabinet appointments, and most of them were actually approached either directly or indirectly. However, it is said that while the possibility of appointments for Representative Yoo Seung-min and Representative Sim Sang-jung was discussed during the review stage, no direct proposals were made to them."

Former Governor of Gyeongnam Province Kim Kyung-soo is speaking with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, at the National Assembly on February 13, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

He continued, "Instead, an appointment was proposed to Representative Lee Jong-hoon, known to be aligned with Yoo Seung-min's faction, and before proposing to Representative Sim Sang-jung, an offer was made to Representative Roh Hoe-chan. Additionally, there were direct or indirect proposals to Representative Ahn Cheol-soo, Representative Kim Sung-sik, and Representative Jung Doo-un, but none of these resulted in actual appointments," he explained.

After confirming that no actual cabinet proposals were made, Kim apologized to former Representative Yoo and others. He said, "I sincerely apologize to former Representative Yoo Seung-min and former Representative Sim Sang-jung for not clearly distinguishing between review and proposal, and I ask for their understanding."

Regarding the situation at the time, Kim explained, "The Moon Jae-in administration sought to elevate the level of cooperation between ruling and opposition parties and transform politics of conflict and confrontation into politics of alliance and cooperation by promoting the appointment of opposition politicians to the cabinet. The intention was to bring those individuals into the cabinet to create a new governance system based on alliance and cooperation."

On introducing the case from that time, he said, "During the Moon administration, there was consideration and effort to raise the level of our politics through the appointment of opposition politicians, but due to the limitations of our political structure and culture, those efforts did not come to fruition. Learning from that experience, I meant to emphasize that we should not repeat those past mistakes. To heal the severe conflicts among the deeply divided people and achieve national unity, it is necessary not simply to offer ministerial positions but to participate together from the transition committee (or an equivalent organization) stage after elections, negotiate policies, form agreements, and jointly compose the cabinet. This is what I meant by a 'Korean-style coalition government,' and I ask for your understanding."

Earlier, former Representative Yoo stated via SNS and other channels, "No one from the Moon Jae-in administration ever offered me a cabinet position," and requested, "I ask that the false statement be immediately withdrawn." The Justice Party also refuted the claim, stating, "We have never received any proposal for cabinet participation from the Moon Jae-in administration."