Kim Ki-hyun Missing at Ruling Party's Defeat Moment... "Shocked by Large Margin Loss"

Goo Sang-chan, Co-Chairman of the Democratic Party's Joint Election Committee, MBC Interview
"Kim Tae-woo Nominated Again? It Defies Common Sense"

At the moment when the defeat of Kim Tae-woo, the People Power Party candidate, was confirmed in the Seoul Gangseo-gu mayoral election, the party leadership, including Representative Kim Ki-hyun, was nowhere to be seen. Within the party, it was anticipated that the political aftershocks of this election would be significant.

Kim Ki-hyun, the leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Koo Sang-chan, co-chairman of the People Power Party's Kim Tae-woo Seoul Gangseo-gu mayoral campaign, appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 12th and stated, "The defeat by such a large margin was a huge shock." Koo evaluated this by-election as a "vote of anger from the residents," analyzing that the reasons for the defeat included the fact that the person responsible for causing the by-election ran again as the People Power Party candidate and that the local election was framed as a 'Democratic Party vs. People Power Party' contest.

Koo said, "In fact, we felt that due to Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo's unjust ruling, we should give it another chance," adding, "We wanted to be judged again by the people, but this was not accepted by the voters."

Kim Tae-woo, the People Power Party candidate for Gangseo District Mayor, is seen acknowledging his defeat and leaving the Gangseo District campaign office in Seoul on the 11th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

He also pointed out, "(The local election) was no longer a fight between Kim Tae-woo and Jin Gyo-hoon but turned into a battle between the People Power Party and the Democratic Party," adding, "Moreover, the media framed it as a prelude and barometer for next year's general election, which escalated the situation into a presidential election contest."

He continued, "There are three parliamentary seats?Gap, Eul, and Byeong?all held by Democratic Party members, and the mayor's office has been held by the Democratic Party for 16 years," adding, "Therefore, the choice of Gangseo residents this time also followed the unfavorable ruling party vs. opposition party pattern, so it was not a local election but a party contest, which I think led to the crushing defeat."

Regarding calls for the Kim Ki-hyun leadership to take responsibility for the election defeat by resigning en masse and forming an emergency committee, he said, "If we want to change the leadership now, we have to hold a party convention again," adding, "If we go to an emergency committee, we have to elect a committee chairman." He continued, "There is no guarantee that no wounds will be inflicted during that process," and said, "In my view, the current leadership will endure the humiliation and manage the situation well."

About Kim Tae-woo candidate's future moves, he said, "(Next year's general election) looks difficult," adding, "I don't know what he will think, but we supported him with full force, and he received nominations three times in one year. Giving him another nomination does not seem reasonable."

Regarding the analysis that the Gangseo-gu mayoral by-election serves as a gauge for the general election, he said, "I do not agree. This is a Democratic Party stronghold," adding, "Viewing this as a measure for the general election would lead to a judgment or result favorable to the opposition party."

Furthermore, he predicted, "If the Democratic Party rejoices over this election, the people and voters will raise the whip again in the next general election," adding, "There are six months left until the general election. It may seem short, but it is a long period. There will be several whirlwinds."

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