Kim Jong-min "Bimyeong-gye Lee Jun-seok Joining New Party? I Haven't Even Talked to Him"

"I haven't seen the opposition's small faction that talked with Lee Jun-seok"
"New party cooperation is possible, but a single party is inappropriate"

Kim Jong-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 8th that there is "no possibility" that anti-Lee Jae-myung faction members within the party might join the new party led by former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok, adding, "Lee Jun-seok's politics is not the new politics I envision or want to pursue."

On the same day, Kim appeared on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kang Sisa' and said, "I don't think Lee Jun-seok's politics is new politics or a new vision," adding, "I'm not belittling or ignoring him; the former leader has his own path, and I respect that."

He continued, "Most other principled lawmakers in the Democratic Party probably share the same view," and added, "From my perspective, the possibility of working together in the same party seems unlikely."

Kim Jong-min, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Earlier, there were media reports suggesting that Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Sang-min met with the former leader and that he might join Lee Jun-seok's new party. Regarding this, Kim said, "I spoke with Lee Sang-min, and he said, 'That was not the intention of the conversation, but the media highlighted that point, which deviated from the original intent.' Primarily, the priority is change, innovation, and determination within the Democratic Party, and if that doesn't happen, then we will keep all options open for final decisions. But interpreting that as 'joining Lee Jun-seok's new party' is the media jumping the gun."

Kim added, "There were reports that some anti-Lee Jae-myung faction members would join Lee Jun-seok's new party, but I have never had a phone call with the former leader, and among the principled Democratic Party lawmakers I know, none have had serious talks with him," adding, "So, naturally, the claim that they discussed joining the new party together is completely untrue."

He further said, "Ahead of the general election, with various changes happening in both major parties, new parties may emerge individually. Politicians who have concerns about Yoon Seok-youl's politics, Lee Jae-myung's politics, totalitarianism, or party factionalization might cooperate or consult with each other, but I don't think it is appropriate to go together as one party."

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