Kim's Camp Invokes Sim Sangjung in "Anti-Lee Jaemyung Big Tent" Plan
"Regret Over Careless Mention Without Communication With Those Involved"
The Two Share Deep Ties From the 1980s Labor Movement
Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, faced backlash after mentioning Sim Sangjung, former leader of the Justice Party, as part of his "anti-Lee Jaemyung big tent" initiative. On May 8, the Democratic Labor Party (formerly the Justice Party) stated via social media, "We express our regret that her name was carelessly mentioned for political purposes without any communication with her." The party added, "Former leader Sim is a member of the Democratic Labor Party, and the party's presidential candidate is Kwon Youngguk. Unlike Kim, Sim has consistently pursued politics for workers, starting her career in the labor movement and continuing until her retirement from politics."
Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, is working on the 8th at the People Power Party presidential candidate office in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
According to a News1 report on the same day, Kim's camp is reportedly planning to continue discussions on the "anti-Lee Jaemyung big tent" by meeting with party members who supported impeachment, such as former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon, as well as Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party, and Lee Nakyon, senior advisor to the New Future Democratic Party. In addition to these figures, it was reported that Kim would also seek help from Sim, who had a history of labor activism with him. However, Sim's side issued a rebuttal in less than a day.
In fact, Kim and Sim were close during the 1980s while participating together in the labor movement. They worked together during the 1985 Guro Alliance Strike and the formation of the Seoul Labor Movement Union (Seonoryeon). There is a well-known story that when Kim was arrested during the May 3 Incheon Democratization Movement in 1986 and tortured, he refused to reveal Sim's whereabouts. Kim's campaign chief for civil society, Kim Haeng, said in an interview on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyunjung's News Show," "Even during the harsh Park Chunghee era, Kim lost hearing in one ear due to torture, but when he was pressured to name Noh Hoechan and Sim Sangjung, he did not betray anyone."
When Sim was placed on a wanted list for leading the Guro Alliance Strike, Kim reportedly looked after her during her ten years in hiding, and Sim's husband, Lee Seungbae, is also known to have been introduced by Kim. However, the two parted ways after Sim rejected Kim's suggestion in the early 1990s to leave the labor movement. Kim then founded the People's Party in 1990 and ran for the National Assembly two years later but was defeated. In 1994, he drastically changed his political path by joining former President Kim Youngsam's Democratic Liberal Party and became a mainstream politician. In contrast, Sim entered politics as the top proportional representative candidate for the Democratic Labor Party in 2004, served four terms as a lawmaker in progressive parties, and retired from politics last year.
There is another progressive figure with ties to Kim. Writer Yoo Simin is Kim's junior from Seoul National University, and it is known that they became acquainted when Kim and Yoo's younger brother were detained by the Defense Security Command during the May 3 Incheon Democratic Uprising in 1986. At the time, the two lived within a five-minute walk of each other and were reportedly in frequent contact. On May 7, on the YouTube channel "Maebul Show," Yoo recalled Kim as "a very stubborn person."
Yoo said, "Back when Kim failed with the People's Party, I visited him and tried to persuade him, saying, 'Brother, join the Democratic Party and become a lawmaker. With your background from TK (Daegu-Gyeongbuk), Seoul National University, and the labor movement, you'll be given a good constituency in the capital region.' But he refused to acknowledge Kim Daejung." Yoo continued, "Once Kim sets his mind on something, he never backtracks. He's really enjoying the current situation. After being treated as an outsider and a rolling stone when he joined the conservative party from the People's Party, he's finally taken over the party. Asking him to give this up after only a few days is impossible." Yoo predicted that the unification process would face significant difficulties.
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