Kim Jin-ae Runs for Seoul Mayor... What Do You Think About Kim Eui-gyeom's Entry into the National Assembly Amid 'Real Estate Speculation Controversy'?

Kim Jin-ae, a member of the Open Democratic Party, is holding a press conference at the National Assembly on the 27th to announce her candidacy for the Seoul mayoral by-election. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] As Kim Jin-ae, a member of the Open Democratic Party, officially announced her candidacy for the Seoul mayoral by-election in April next year, attention is focused on the possibility of former Blue House spokesperson Kim Eui-gyeom, who was involved in a real estate speculation controversy, entering the National Assembly. If Representative Kim resigns her seat to run for Seoul mayor, former spokesperson Kim, who was number 4 on the Open Democratic Party's proportional representation list in last April's general election, can succeed to the seat.

On the 27th, Representative Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly and stated, "I will become the first Seoul mayor with an urban planning background and create a Seoul where citizens can smile."

An urban planning expert, Representative Kim first entered the 18th National Assembly in 2009 as a proportional representative of the Democratic Party and was elected as number 1 on the Open Democratic Party's proportional representation list in the 21st National Assembly.

Representative Kim said, "We need to nurture a healthy real estate ecosystem rather than pouring fuel on the real estate bubble," and pledged policies such as "promoting midtown development near about 300 Seoul subway stations for close proximity between workplace and residence" and "supporting redevelopment and reconstruction that enhance public interest."

If Representative Kim is confirmed as the Open Democratic Party's candidate for Seoul mayor and resigns her seat according to the election commission's candidate registration rules, former spokesperson Kim, who was number 4 on the proportional representation list, will inherit the seat.

The Open Democratic Party secured three seats (Kim Jin-ae, Kang Min-jung, Choi Kang-wook) in the last general election, but former spokesperson Kim, who was number 4 on the proportional representation list, did not make it into the National Assembly.

Former Blue House Spokesperson Kim Eui-kyeom. Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, former spokesperson Kim was embroiled in a real estate speculation controversy after it was confirmed that he purchased a commercial building in Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, which was slated for redevelopment, for 2.57 billion won during his tenure as Blue House spokesperson in 2018.

It was later reported that he sold the building in December last year, just 1 year and 5 months later, for 3.45 billion won, earning a capital gain of 880 million won.

Following the real estate controversy, former spokesperson Kim resigned from his Blue House spokesperson position and declared his candidacy as a preliminary candidate for Gunsan, Jeonbuk, under the Democratic Party last February but was excluded from the nomination. Subsequently, he participated in the founding of the Open Democratic Party and was number 4 on the proportional representation list, but the party secured only three proportional seats, ultimately preventing him from entering the National Assembly.

However, it remains uncertain whether Representative Kim will complete the Seoul mayoral race. The Open Democratic Party announced its internal primary rules based on an "open nomination" system on the 7th. According to this, to be selected as the party's candidate, one must receive 50% recommendation from party members and 50% from local citizens, followed by passing a vote by all party members.

The possibility of "unification of candidates within the broader ruling coalition" with the Democratic Party also remains a variable. Regarding this, Representative Kim said at the Seoul mayoral candidacy press conference, "Since both the Democratic Party and the Open Democratic Party hope for the success of the Moon Jae-in administration, I hope the Democratic Party will explore the possibility of working together on a larger scale," leaving open the possibility of unification.

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