First-Term Lawmakers Leaving Yeouido... Old Boys Declare Comeback

Kim Moo-sung Contemplates Candidacy... Park Ji-won, Lee In-je, Jung Dong-young Running
'First-term' Kim Woong: "Current People Power Is Not a Democratic Party"
Opposition's Oh Young-hwan, Hong Sung-kook, Kang Min-jung, Lee Tan-hee Also Not Running

Ahead of the April 10 general election, while first-term lawmakers from the two major parties are consecutively announcing their decisions not to run, veteran lawmakers, so-called 'Old Boys (OBs),' are throwing their hats into the ring, creating a contrasting atmosphere.

Kim Moo-sung, former leader of the Saenuri Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) (72), revealed on the 8th that he is considering running in Busan Jung and Yeongdo districts. On the same day, on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Kim said, "I am firming up my resolve to play a role in correcting the corrupt politics that are causing democracy to regress," adding that he will make a final decision after consulting with local voters.

This move contrasts with his past statement that he would not run for elected office after the age of 70. At a seminar held in the National Assembly last June, Kim dismissed rumors of a political comeback before the general election, saying, "I have no such intention at all," and emphasized, "I did not leave because I was denied nomination; I voluntarily declared that I would not run. It is not right to ask for votes after turning 70."

Former Saenuri Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) leader Kim Moo-sung. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim said, "I am hesitating somewhat because of my past remarks," and added, "Having spent a long time as a public figure, I realized that spending a lot of good time with my family, which I had neglected, is my greatest happiness." Nevertheless, he said, "Because politics is not heading in a good direction and is rapidly worsening, I am considering running," and added, "Sometimes when I see myself speaking in the National Assembly through YouTube, my face feels hot."

Other OB politicians are also announcing their candidacies. Park Ji-won, former director of the National Intelligence Service (81), and Chung Dong-young, former Minister of Unification (70), are challenging for their fifth term in Jeonnam Haenam, Wando, Jindo and Jeonbuk Jeonju-byeong, respectively. Former lawmaker Lee In-je (75) is also running for his seventh term in his hometown of Chungnam Nonsan, Gyeryong, Geumsan.

On the other hand, first-term lawmakers are announcing their decisions not to run one after another. Kim Woong, a former prosecutor and People Power Party lawmaker, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on the same day and declared his intention not to run, saying, "If asked whether the current People Power Party is a democratic party, my answer is 'No.'"

Kim explained his reason for not running, saying, "I cannot join the declaration to give up the arrest consent bill," adding, "As a legal professional, it goes against principles and conservative spirit. I will not participate in making the constitutional system a laughingstock because of nomination rights."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, four first-term lawmakers from the Democratic Party (Oh Young-hwan, Hong Sung-kook, Kang Min-jung, Lee Tan-hee) also announced their intention not to run. They expressed frustration with the political reality that cannot change society.

Oh Young-hwan, a former firefighter who was the first to announce his decision not to run, declared in April, "As one responsible politician, I ultimately could not do anything about the political reality that relies solely on factional logic and is busy demonizing the opposition, which the public ignores," and said he would return to being a firefighter after finishing his remaining term. Kang Min-jung, a former teacher, criticized, "The 21st National Assembly is not free from responsibility for politically and economically regressing South Korea as it is today," and submitted a letter of non-candidacy in November last year.

Last month, Hong Sung-kook, an economic expert and former president of Mirae Asset Daewoo, and Lee Tan-hee, a former judge, announced their decisions not to run in the general election. Hong said at a press conference, "Due to the limitations of the current backward political structure, I could not achieve results," and added, "I will return as a futurist researcher creating the future vision of our country." Lee emphasized maintaining the semi-proportional representation system and introducing laws to prevent satellite parties, saying, "I will give up all remaining opportunities to run in the 22nd general election and serve in the background."

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