[Summary] Opposition, Keeping Distance from Geum Tae-seop... "No Lawmaker Wishes for His Party Entry"

Heo Eun-a "It May Not Look Good to the Public"
"If a Way to Convince the Public Is Found, Joining the Party Is Possible"
Ruling Party, Continuous Criticism of Geum Tae-seop After Lecture on the 18th

Former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, who left the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving a lecture at the 'Myeongbulheojeon' meeting of first-term lawmakers of the People Power Party at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 18th. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, who left the Democratic Party, hinted at the possibility of running in the Seoul mayoral by-election scheduled for April next year. Meanwhile, some opposition party members are distancing themselves from the idea of Geum joining their party, saying, "There are no lawmakers hoping for (Geum's) admission." Geum himself previously explained in a lecture that "joining the People Power Party and participating in the party's candidate primary would not look good to the public."

Heo Eun-ah, a People Power Party lawmaker who invited Geum to give a lecture at the National Assembly, said in an interview with MBC Radio on the 19th, "As far as I know, there are currently no (People Power Party) lawmakers hoping for (Geum's) admission," adding, "Changing parties does not look good to the public."

However, she added, "If the timing and method that the public can accept are found, it can be interpreted that (Geum's) admission is possible."

Some speculate that the opposition party is distancing itself from Geum ahead of next year's by-election. Currently, Geum does not have a solid foothold within the People Power Party, and having established his image as a 'principled' lawmaker by leaving the Democratic Party, his immediate admission to the opposition party could rather increase confusion.

On the 18th, former lawmaker Geum appeared at the lecture titled 'Myungbulheojeon.' / Photo by Yonhap News

In fact, Geum himself pointed out on the 18th during a lecture at the People Power Party's freshman lawmakers' meeting 'Myeongbulheojeon Conservative' held at the National Assembly, "Joining the People Power Party and participating in the party's candidate primary immediately after leaving the Democratic Party would not look good to the public, no matter how it is explained."

However, he expressed his willingness to continue cooperating with the opposition. Geum said, "Even if the opposition and I have different views, we must cooperate until the greatest common denominator is found, and of course, we can cooperate," adding, "If the People Power Party does not change, the chances of winning are low, and even if it takes a long time, I will have no choice but to go to the third party, but if the People Power Party can be an alternative, I can work together."

Meanwhile, after Geum attended a lecture at an opposition lawmakers' meeting, the Democratic Party appears to be continuously criticizing Geum Tae-seop.

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-guk pointed out on his Facebook on the 19th that Geum's two children each hold housing shares worth more than 1.6 billion won, saying, "(Geum) does not qualify to be Seoul mayor, but definitely qualifies to join the People Power Party," and criticized, "He strongly talks about a fair society to other young people, but helped his own children to have shares in luxury villas and several hundred million won in cash."

Kim Nam-guk, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

There are also forecasts that Geum's weak political base will make it difficult for him to perform well in the Seoul mayoral by-election.

Democratic Party lawmaker Jung Cheong-rae wrote on his Facebook that day, "Those who have eaten meat before eat well, and those who have won elections before win again. If Geum Tae-seop runs as the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral candidate, it will be a very easy game," and argued, "We can just send out lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, who overwhelmingly won the primary against (Geum)."

From the same party, lawmaker Kim Jong-min said in a radio interview on the 20th, targeting Geum, "It is not something to pick on a politician running for election," but also pointed out, "He was attacked and criticized by party members, but if he starts politics out of resentment toward Democratic Party members and attacks on the Democratic Party, it is not desirable."

He added, "Many have started politics out of anger, but none have ever succeeded."

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