Core Pro-Moon Figure Kim Kyung-soo Guilty Confirmed... Cold Shower for Ruling Party 7 Months Before Presidential Election

'Druking' Kim Dong-won Admits Collusion
Supreme Court Concludes "Appeal Court's Judgment Is Correct"

Governor Kim Served as Secretary in Participatory Government and Is Considered a Close Aide to President Moon Jae-in
Fairness Issues Resurface
Pro-Moon Faction Faces Psychological Pressure
Democratic Party "Regretful but Respect the Ruling"
People Power Party "Moon President's Legitimacy Tarnished"

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Jo Seong-pil] The Supreme Court's guilty verdict on June 21 regarding Kim Kyung-soo, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, for computer-related obstruction of business charges, centers on recognizing a conspiracy relationship with Druking's Kim Dong-won. Until now, Kim's side argued that the manipulation of portal site comments using the macro (automatic input repetition) program 'King Crab' was solely Druking's crime and that no conspiracy relationship was established.

However, the Supreme Court concluded that "the appellate court's judgment recognizing the conspiracy relationship is correct." This is because it was found that Kim Kyung-soo attended a demonstration of King Crab at Druking's office in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, in November 2016, ahead of the presidential election. The first and second trials had focused on Druking's testimony that "Kim Kyung-soo saw the demonstration and approved its use," which matched Naver log records, and thus judged that the demonstration took place. Kim had denied attending the demonstration from the investigation stage, but it was ultimately proven false.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On that day, in his final statement, Kim Kyung-soo pleaded, "If I had conspired with Kim Dong-won in the crime, there would be an overwhelming amount of circumstances that are logically incomprehensible," adding, "I want to ask the special prosecutor if it is possible to conspire in illegal acts with people I barely met two or three times." He strongly protested, saying, "I find it impossible to accept the appellate court's ruling that I conspired in illegal acts," and "I wonder why Kim Dong-won pointed to me as an accomplice and involved me in his case."

Meanwhile, with the presidential election about seven months away, the confirmation of guilt for Kim Kyung-soo, a 'pro-Moon (pro-Moon Jae-in)' core figure, is expected to become a significant political burden for the government and ruling party. Kim, who served as a secretary to the late President Roh Moo-hyun, is considered a close aide to President Moon Jae-in and the legitimate heir of the Democratic Party of Korea. He holds enormous influence not only among pro-Roh but also pro-Moon supporters, and opposition presidential candidates have been courting him to consolidate the pro-Moon faction.

However, from disputes over fairness issues raised by the Moon administration to the psychological weakening of the pro-Moon faction, the Democratic Party is expected to be on the defensive ahead of next year's presidential election. The Democratic Party issued a statement saying, "Although we deeply regret it, we respect the Supreme Court's ruling." On the other hand, the People Power Party criticized, saying, "This is a huge blow to President Moon Jae-in's legitimacy."

Until just before the Supreme Court ruling, ruling party presidential candidates who claimed Kim Kyung-soo's innocence lamented the absence of a 'key man' in the Gyeongnam region. On that day, former party leader Lee Nak-yeon said, "The Supreme Court's ruling is very regrettable," and Representative Kim, who visited Gyeongnam Provincial Office to support Kim Kyung-soo before the verdict, expressed sorrow, calling it "a lamentable matter." Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun also expressed regret, saying, "Judging guilt solely based on Druking's unilateral claims violates the principle of evidence priority in law."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Last week, ruling party presidential candidates made efforts to secure votes centered on Kim Kyung-soo, including gathering at the funeral home for Kim's father-in-law to make an impression, but the guilty verdict on this day rendered those efforts futile. Especially considering that Kim was the only ruling party figure exerting influence in Gyeongnam, the ruling party's concern over filling his absence is expected to grow. Conversely, the opposition's offensive to firmly capture votes in the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam (Bu-Ul-Gyeong) region may intensify as a result.

However, there is also analysis that while Kim Kyung-soo's confirmed guilt may provide the opposition with a pretext for political attacks, it will not significantly affect the presidential election landscape next year.

Professor Choi Chang-ryeol of Yongin University said, "The pro-Moon faction may be somewhat psychologically weakened by the opposition's attacks, but I believe it will not correlate with the Moon administration and ruling party's approval ratings." Professor Park Sang-byeong of Inha University also analyzed, "The opposition also has burdens in accusing this as state corruption," adding, "Other than Kim Kyung-soo's political life ending, it will not expand into a change in the presidential election landscape."

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