Emphasizing Opposition Unity After Visiting the May 18 Cemetery
"I Will Play Any Role on the Path to Coalition"
"Open to Alliance with Lee Nakyon"
Former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyungsoo is speaking on the morning of the 24th at Gwangju City Council about his visit to the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery and his meeting with Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong. Photo by Yonhap News
Former South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kyungsoo on the 24th called for the unification of pro-democracy forces, stating, "Any political force that supports impeachment and agrees with protecting democracy in the Republic of Korea should join together."
After paying respects at the May 18 National Cemetery in Gwangju, Kim emphasized, "The coalition of forces supporting impeachment and democracy must not only contest elections together but also collaborate in state governance to heal divisions. This is the 'Korean-style coalition government,' and only then is a unified Korea possible."
Regarding his visit to Gwangju, he said, "It was devastating that pro-insurrection forces held an anti-impeachment rally in Gwangju on the 15th. I came here to apologize to the spirits of May and to pledge to create a future that can unite a divided Korea."
On the Democratic Party's efforts to broaden its base, he stated, "We must go beyond internal unity within the Democratic Party and move toward a broad coalition and alliance that includes all pro-democracy forces. If there is any role I can play on that path, I will do whatever it takes."
On the morning of the 24th, Kim Kyungsoo, former governor of Gyeongnam and a presidential contender from the non-Lee Jae-myung faction of the Democratic Party, paid respects at the grave of martyr Moon Jaehak at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News
Regarding the possibility of former Prime Minister Lee Nakyon rejoining the Democratic Party, he stressed, "It is difficult to achieve unity with an exclusive logic of who is allowed and who is not. There needs to be discussion about coalition and harmony that can unite everyone in the opposition."
Kim then moved to Gwangju City Hall to meet with Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijung. He said, "We agreed that the central government should work with local governments to promote five major super-regional local governments nationwide for balanced development. I also fully supported the deletion of the martial law clause from the Constitution and the inclusion of the May 18 spirit in its preamble."
He visited Shinan, Mokpo, and Gwangju over a two-day, one-night trip starting the previous day. In Imjado, Shinan, he met his wife's relatives to greet them upon his return to Korea and paid respects at his father-in-law and mother-in-law's memorial. He then traveled to Gwangju to pay respects at the May 18 cemetery and met with the families of the Jeju Air disaster victims.
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