Yoo Seung-min on Kim Tae-woo's Nomination by Ruling Party: "Candidacy Without Justification, Challenging Election"

MBC 'Kim Jong-bae Focus' Interview
"It is shameful for the cause of the by-election to run again"

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min described the selection of former Gangseo District Mayor Kim Tae-woo as the final People Power Party candidate for the upcoming Gangseo District mayoral by-election in October as an "embarrassing matter."

This Gangseo District mayoral by-election is being held following Kim's loss of his mayoral position due to a final guilty verdict from the Supreme Court.

Kim, who served as a special inspection team member in the Blue House's Civil Affairs Office under the Moon Jae-in administration, exposed allegations of cover-up related to then-Civil Affairs Secretary Cho Kuk in 2018. He was subsequently prosecuted for leaking official secrets and, in May, the Supreme Court confirmed a sentence of one year in prison with a two-year probation. After regaining his eligibility to run through a special pardon on Liberation Day last month, he is now able to run again in the by-election.

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, who is running in the People Power Party's Gyeonggi Province governor primary, holds a press conference appealing for support at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 19th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

In an interview on the 18th with MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' former lawmaker Yoo criticized Kim Tae-woo, saying, "While he may be dissatisfied with the Supreme Court ruling, this by-election is being held because of him, yet the president pardoned him and the People Power Party put him forward as a candidate," calling it "a candidacy without justification."

He continued, "This election lacks justification and the atmosphere is not good either," adding, "To reverse the mood, within the next 20 days, either the president or the ruling party must show a significant reform to win the hearts of the people, but the hearts of the undecided voters have already drifted away."

Regarding the government's second cabinet reshuffle, Yoo said, "It seems they only chose the people who fight the best," and added, "The president should not be involved in dividing the people, fighting, and provoking political strife. Frankly, this tiresome fighting politics seems likely to continue until the general election, which is frustrating."

On President Yoon Seok-youl emphasizing ideology, Yoo questioned, "Why is he so belatedly obsessed with ideology?" and expressed surprise, "Was he originally far-right? It’s really shocking. The Taegeukgi Unit may like it, but how much will the sound centrists, conservatives, and undecided voters turn their backs on the Yoon Seok-youl administration after seeing this cabinet reshuffle?"

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