'Yeonggukyuhak' Kim Kyungsoo "1-Year Plan... Future Role Depends on Situation"

"Moon's End-of-Term Pardon? Most Active Opposition Recommendation"
"Democratic Party Gains Public Support When Making Efforts to Change"

Former Gyeongnam Province Governor Kim Kyung-soo said on the 25th, "I plan to leave for the UK in mid-May and study for a year, hoping to look at the fundamental problems that our society needs to solve from a broader perspective."

Kim made this remark during a casual meeting with the press held before a party member meeting of the Democratic Party's Gyeongnam Provincial Party that day.

Kim said, "Due to various circumstances, I am in a position where it is difficult to engage in official activities, so I plan to leave the country for about a year to resolve questions I had during my time as governor. While it is important to analyze issues one by one within Korean society, I think it would also be helpful to look at experiences from other countries in a broader way."

Former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo is speaking at a meeting with the press held on the afternoon of the 25th at the Democratic Party of Korea Gyeongnam Provincial Office in Changwon, Gyeongnam.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

He specifically stated, "I will be affiliated with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and it seems I will join a department that deals with regional policy, environment, and the climate crisis. I will go as a visiting professor, and I expect to have time to raise questions I am curious about and listen to and learn from experts on how to solve them."

Regarding his role after next year's general election, he said, "At this point, it is difficult to talk about the political situation a year from now. For now, I plan to go out for a year to learn and reflect, and I will make judgments based on the situation afterward."

On the possibility of returning to Korea during his studies abroad, he was reserved, saying, "Please ask me about that when you come to the UK next time."

Regarding the current situation of the Democratic Party, Kim said, "Since I have not officially resumed political activities after my release, it does not seem appropriate to mention party or political issues."

However, he added, "Looking back at the Democratic Party's past history, there was public support when it made efforts to innovate and change itself. For now, I think it is important for the Democratic Party to carefully consider and work out how to innovate in the direction that the people desire."

About former President Moon Jae-in, he mentioned, "I met President Moon the day before yesterday and told him that I would be going abroad for about a year, and he encouraged me."

He continued, "However, there is one thing many people misunderstand, so I would like to clarify it. There was a pardon controversy at the end of former President Moon's term, and at that time, I was the most active in recommending that a pardon should not be granted."

He added, "From my perspective, I thought it was inappropriate for the president to grant pardons to close aides at the end of the term. Personally, I also did not want to receive a pardon in that manner."

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