Kim Du-kwan "Refusal of Democratic Party Primary... Primary Rules Without Consultation with Candidates"

Kim Dookwan Says, "No Face to Participate in Democratic Party Primary" on the 14th
Expresses Discontent Over Primary Rules... "No Discussion With Candidates"

Former Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Du-kwan stated, "I refuse to participate in the Democratic Party primary that betrays the spirit of Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun." Kim proposed an open primary (fully participatory national primary) system for the primary rules, but he opposed the party's decision to set the primary rules without consulting the candidates.

Yonhap News

On the 14th, Kim posted a message with this title on his Facebook. He said, "I am sorry and ashamed," adding, "However, I have no face to participate in the Democratic Party primary that betrays the spirit of Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun."

Kim said, "I was the first in the Democratic Party to declare my candidacy," explaining, "Because I thought that once the chaotic situation of martial law and rebellion was resolved, the time to restore politics should be brought forward quickly."

He added, "But the Democratic Party has regressed compared to 2022," and said, "The reason the World Cup held in Seoul that year was so passionate was because our players broke the order and rankings that were taken for granted." He continued, "That’s why it was even more passionate, and Roh Moo-hyun won that way," adding, "Believing in the people and not calculating gains and losses is the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun, and inclusion and unity are the spirit of Kim Dae-jung."

Kim claimed that he proposed a 'fully open open primary' as the primary rule, but the party’s election management committee announced a rule that an open primary was not possible without discussion with the candidates. He criticized, "Primary rules without consultation with the candidates will obviously lead to results similar to endorsing a specific candidate."

The Democratic Party’s Special Presidential Election Rules Preparation Committee (Party Rules Committee) changed the presidential primary rules from the existing national electorate system to a system of 50% voting by party members with rights and 50% public opinion polling of the general public.

Regarding the claim that this primary rule was to prevent reverse voting, he pointed out, "How can we hold an election when we are afraid of Shincheonji and Jeon Kwang-hoon?" and said, "Wouldn’t it be a more honest choice to simply strip voting rights from those listed in Shincheonji and the Sarang Jeil Church?" He then questioned, "Did reverse voting really happen? When has such reverse voting ever occurred in the Democratic Party primary?"

Kim reiterated, "I refuse to participate in the Democratic Party primary that excludes the spirit of Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun," and said, "I want to contemplate what the true future of the Democratic Party is, what political development in the Republic of Korea means, how to inherit the spirit of Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, and how to create hope for the people."

Finally, he said, "For a while, I plan to listen to advice and take time for deep reflection on what political steps I should take for the people and the country," adding, "It won’t be very long."