Kim Eui-gyeom: "Being abandoned by the party is like being hanged twice"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Former Blue House spokesperson Kim Ui-gyeom sent an open letter to Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. He argued that the Democratic Party is being excessively harsh due to concerns about conservative media and appealed to be accepted as a preliminary candidate. He lamented that being excluded from the nomination would be like "being hanged twice."

On the 1st, Kim posted a message titled "To Leader Lee Hae-chan" on his Facebook, stating, "I held a press conference and declared my candidacy on December 19 last year, but the Democratic Party has not accepted me as a preliminary candidate, and I have been drifting on the streets of Gunsan for 45 days."

"The Democratic Party’s competitor wears a blue jumper, hands out business cards, and greets people morning and evening at a major intersection, but there is almost nothing I can do. I handed out a few business cards and only received a warning from the election commission. I have set up an office, but I cannot hang a banner, so the previous restaurant sign ‘Jobang Nakji’ remains as it is. The blue jumper I prepared to wear soon is stuffed in a box."

This is the situation Kim described. He said, "I tried to correct my mistakes," adding, "As promised, I sold my house and donated the capital gain of 370 million won to a foundation. This is the amount left after deducting various taxes, financial costs, and brokerage fees. I submitted all supporting documents to the verification committee, and they all acknowledged it. I would have paid even 10,000 won more if necessary, not less."

The Democratic Party’s verification committee thoroughly examined the matter, and "I understand that on the 30th, at a closed supreme council meeting, Chairman Kim Kyung-hyup reported that it was understood to be ‘without problems.’"

The Democratic Party’s verification committee has been delaying the decision on Kim’s screening. Kim said, "All I ask is to be allowed to run as a preliminary candidate."

"If I step down voluntarily at the verification stage, which deals with legal issues, I would be dying twice. I would be stepping down from the Blue House and being abandoned by the party, which is like being hanged twice for one incident," he revealed his feelings.

Kim also said, "If allowed to participate in the primary, I would give up the rookie bonus points of 10-20%."

He added, "I don’t know if it’s just me who feels this way, but I think the party is being harsh on me."

"I guess it’s because they are conscious of the media, especially the JoongAng Ilbo, Chosun Ilbo, Dong-A Ilbo, and conservative broadcasting stations. As a journalist, I opened the curtain on the ‘Choi Soon-sil Gate’ and earned the hatred of reactionary forces, and as a spokesperson, I defended the president without reservation, clashing with conservative media. But if the Democratic Party also readily accepts their frame, who would want to take on such a villainous role? I have never recalled my mother’s saying ‘A protruding nail gets hammered down’ as often as these days."

Kim recalled that Lee was excluded from the nomination four years ago and said, "I think the reason you have emphasized ‘systematic nomination’ is because of such experiences. It may be presumptuous, but I earnestly ask if such principles and systems can be applied to me as well."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.