Kim Kyung-soo's Appeal Trial Verdict Today... Guilty Verdict Could Accelerate Lee Nak-yeon and Lee Jae-myung's 'Pro-Moon Faction' Crackdown

Sentencing Hearing for Kim Kyung-soo's 'Druking Case' at 2 PM Today
Presidential Campaign Strategies of Lee Nak-yeon and Lee Jae-myung Likely to Change Based on Verdict
Key Focus on Capturing 'Pro-Moon' Faction

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] The appellate trial for Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, who was sentenced to prison in the first trial on charges of the so-called 'Druking comment manipulation,' will be held on the 6th. If Governor Kim is found guilty, it is expected that the competition between Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, to capture the 'pro-Moon (pro-Moon Jae-in)' faction will accelerate.

The Seoul High Court Criminal Division 2 (Presiding Judges Ham Sang-hoon, Kim Min-ki, Ha Tae-han) will hold the appellate trial sentencing hearing for Governor Kim at 2 p.m. that day. Earlier, the special prosecution team led by Heo Ik-beom requested a prison sentence of 3 years and 6 months for comment manipulation charges and 2 years and 6 months for violation of the Public Official Election Act during the appellate trial closing arguments.

Since Governor Kim has been regarded as the de facto sole pro-Moon presidential candidate as a legitimate heir of the pro-Moon faction, it is expected that the ruling party's presidential race structure and the strategies of each candidate will undergo significant changes depending on the outcome of this appellate trial. In particular, if he is found guilty, the biggest question will be who can absorb more of the lost pro-Moon votes.

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is deep in thought after delivering his opening remarks at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 6th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Leader Lee has already begun 'embracing the pro-Moon faction' by reorganizing his surrounding group mainly with senior pro-Moon members and current lawmakers from the Blue House. Key pro-Moon figures include Park Kwang-on, Secretary-General, Choi In-ho, Chief Spokesperson of the 'PK pro-Moon' faction, and Kim Young-bae, Political Affairs Chief from the Moon Jae-in Blue House.

Additionally, pro-Moon figures such as Hong Ik-pyo, Director of the Democratic Research Institute, Han Jeong-ae, Chair of the Policy Committee, and Jeong Tae-ho, Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, hold major party positions under Leader Lee's administration. Leader Lee himself continuously appeals to pro-Moon party members by emphasizing the continuation of the Moon Jae-in administration.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Recently, attention has been focused on the pro-Moon faction supporting Governor Lee, who has begun to surpass Leader Lee in various presidential preference polls. Governor Lee has been increasing meetings with pro-Moon lawmakers and expanding his reach to the central political stage. He has also recently restrained his 'refreshing' critical remarks toward the government and ruling party, which is analyzed as an effort to align with the pro-Moon 'code.'

The independent consolidation of the pro-Moon group is considered the biggest variable for these candidates. In fact, the pro-Moon group plans to establish a mammoth think tank called the 'Democracy 4.0 Institute (tentative name),' which will include a large number of pro-Moon lawmakers. Ahead of the political schedule leading to by-elections and the presidential primary, they are gathering lawmakers and experts within the party to devise a pro-Moon-centered ruling plan, according to analysis.

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