Minseok Kim Dismisses Possibility of Running for Seoul Mayor Next Year, Says "Will Devote Myself Fully to Prime Minister Role"

On Resigning from the National Assembly Seat:
"I Have Never Considered It"

Prime Minister nominee Minseok Kim dismissed the possibility of running in next year's Seoul mayoral election on the 24th, stating, "I will devote myself fully to the role of Prime Minister."

Prime Minister nominee Minseok Kim is speaking at the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly in Seoul on the 24th. Photo by Yonhap News

At the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the same day, Kim responded to a related question from Gyu-taek Kwak, a member of the People Power Party, saying, "I have already made up my mind," and made this statement.

Representative Kwak said, "You have previously run for Seoul mayor, and you have also run for Busan mayor. The local elections are scheduled for June next year. As a Prime Minister nominee with a political background, one might think of serving as Prime Minister for about a year and then taking another shot at the Seoul mayoral race during the local elections. Which is it for you?"

In response, Kim said, "I told President Jaemyung Lee that I would devote myself fully to this role, thinking that this could be the last chapter of my political career." When Representative Kwak said, "I hope you approach it that way," Kim replied, "Yes."

Representative Kwak also asked, "If you become Prime Minister, you will concurrently hold a seat as a National Assembly member, but it seems you will hardly be able to carry out parliamentary activities. Will you continue to retain your aides?"

Kim responded, "If your question is about whether it is appropriate to concurrently serve as a National Assembly member, or about retaining my aides, since the dual office system has been in place since the establishment of the National Assembly and the Prime Minister system, I will comply with that framework and exercise maximum restraint."

When Representative Kwak asked, "If you feel a heavy sense of responsibility as Prime Minister nominee, have you ever considered resigning from your National Assembly seat and fully dedicating yourself to the Prime Minister position, which would be a first in constitutional history?" Kim replied, "I have never considered it."

When Representative Kwak asked if Kim felt the sense of responsibility implied by the phrase 'second only to the President, above all others' often used to describe the Prime Minister, Kim replied, "I do feel a sense of responsibility, but I think that expression is somewhat outdated for our times."