[Summary] Kim Euigyeom and Kim Jinae Enter National Assembly by Resigning from Assemblyman Positions... Opposition: "A World Where Even Speculators Become Assembly Members"

Kim Jin-ae, Member of the Open Democratic Party. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Following the resignation of Kim Jin-ae, the Open Democratic Party candidate running in the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, from her position as a member of the National Assembly, former Blue House spokesperson Kim Eui-gyeom, who was next in line on the proportional representation list, has succeeded to the parliamentary seat.

On the 2nd, Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly and announced her resignation from the National Assembly to focus on unifying the ruling party candidates for the Seoul mayoral election.

Kim explained, "The unification of the pro-democracy camp must be different from the unification of the conservative opposition, which is just a political game," adding, "For the Democratic Party of Korea and the Open Democratic Party to win together, a faithful unification method is necessary, and the process should be engaging for the citizens of Seoul."

She continued, "To achieve a victorious unification, I am stepping down from my position as a member of the National Assembly," and requested the Democratic Party of Korea to "exercise leadership to agree on a fair unification plan so that my decision to resign will not be in vain."

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

With Kim’s resignation from the proportional representation seat, former Blue House spokesperson Kim Eui-gyeom, who was next in line, has succeeded to the parliamentary seat.

Previously, in last year’s 21st general election, the Open Democratic Party secured 3 proportional representation seats (Kim Jin-ae, Kang Min-jung, Choi Kang-wook) with 5.42% of the party vote. Kim Eui-gyeom was fourth on the proportional list but failed to enter the National Assembly as the party only secured three seats.

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

It is known that in December 2019, just one year and five months later, he resold the building for 3.45 billion KRW, earning a capital gain of 880 million KRW.

Kim resigned from his spokesperson position amid the real estate controversy and declared his candidacy for Gunsan, Jeonbuk, as a Democratic Party preliminary candidate in the 21st general election but was excluded from nomination due to public backlash. He then participated in the founding of the Open Democratic Party, received the fourth spot on the proportional list, and after Kim Jin-ae’s resignation, he has now succeeded to the parliamentary seat after a series of twists and turns.

The People Power Party immediately opposed the news of Kim Eui-gyeom’s succession to the parliamentary seat. Hwang Gyu-hwan, the standing deputy spokesperson of the People Power Party, issued a statement saying, "In this world, if you are loyal to the regime, no matter how many illegal acts you commit or how much speculation you engage in, you become a member of the National Assembly."

He added, "Although the succession is according to the law, following Representative Choi Kang-wook, who was sentenced to eight months in prison in the first trial for issuing a false internship certificate, former Blue House spokesperson Kim Eui-gyeom, tainted by real estate speculation, has also become a member of the National Assembly," criticizing, "The people, who have reached a point where they cannot even dream of owning a home due to this regime’s real estate policies, are only left feeling disillusioned."

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