Kang Deukgu Criticizes People Power Party: "Threatening President Lee... Opposing Minseok Kim's Confirmation Will Mark the Beginning of Downfall"

People Power Party Mentions 'Downfall of Lee Jaemyung Administration' in Front of Presidential Office
Kang Deukgu: "An Unreasonable Threat to President Lee"
"If Opposition to Kim's Confirmation Becomes Official Party Line, Local Election Disaster Awaits"

Kang Deukgu, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the People Power Party, stating, "Opposing the confirmation of Prime Minister nominee Minseok Kim will mark the beginning of your downfall." On July 2, Kang wrote on his social media, "Yesterday (July 1), the People Power Party held a general assembly in front of the presidential office and declared, 'If the confirmation of nominee Kim is forced through, it will mark the beginning of the downfall of the Lee Jaemyung administration,'" adding, "This is an utterly unreasonable threat directed at President Lee."

Kang Deukgu, Democratic Party of Korea member. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Previously, on July 1, the People Power Party held an on-site general assembly in front of the presidential office, demanding the withdrawal of Kim's nomination and delivered a letter of protest containing their stance to the presidential office. At that time, Song Eonseok, floor leader of the People Power Party, emphasized, "Keep in mind that the very moment you force through the confirmation of nominee Kim, who is as frivolous and arrogant as a feather, will be the start of the downfall of the Lee Jaemyung administration. I urge President Lee, for the normalization of politics and restoration of cooperation, to immediately withdraw the nomination of Kim. Otherwise, you will surely regret it."

Kang asked, "Have you listened to the remarks made by People Power Party lawmakers, including lawmaker Joo Jinwoo, and the responses from nominee Kim during the confirmation hearing?" He continued, "I believe nominee Kim has already provided a sufficiently thorough explanation." He added, "According to opinion polls, the view that nominee Kim is 'suitable' was overwhelmingly higher than the view that he is 'unsuitable.' This cannot even be compared to the suitability ratings of Jeong Hongwon, nominee during the Park Geunhye administration, or Han Ducksoo, nominee during the Yoon Sukyeol administration. Even right after the launch of the Yoon Sukyeol administration, there were various criticisms, but the Democratic Party cooperated in confirming former Prime Minister Han in a spirit of broad-mindedness."

Kang stated, "Among Democratic Party lawmakers, I was the first to call for the impeachment of Yoon Sukyeol, and was ultimately impeached myself. I also took the lead in calling for a special prosecutor for Kim Keonhee, and the special investigation is now underway," adding, "If the People Power Party chooses to make 'opposition to nominee Kim's confirmation' its official party line, it will only be hastening its own downfall. This will be clearly reflected in opinion polls, and in next year's local elections, except for the Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) region, the party will face disastrous results."

Prime Minister nominee Minseok Kim. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

The standoff between the ruling and opposition parties over the National Assembly's confirmation of nominee Kim continues day after day. The Democratic Party plans to convene a plenary session on July 3 to process the confirmation bill, but the People Power Party is demanding nominee Kim's voluntary withdrawal and opposes holding the plenary session. National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik has urged both parties to reach an agreement, but has also stated that, at the latest, a plenary session will be held on July 3 to put the confirmation bill to a vote.

Given the number of seats held by the Democratic Party and affiliated parties, the confirmation of nominee Kim can proceed to a vote and pass without the consent of the People Power Party. However, the People Power Party maintains its stance of opposing to the end in order to keep the government and ruling party in check. On July 2, floor leader Song stated at a National Assembly press conference, "The People Power Party will reinvent itself as a true opposition party and properly fulfill its role of criticism and oversight."