Kim Du-gwan: "Democratic Party Crisis... Reform New Party Midway Absorption, People Power Party Pursues"

Key Lawmakers Should Be Assigned to Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam
"Lee Jae-myung Needs to Manage Candidacy with Refreshing Leadership"

Kim Du-gwan, member of the Democratic Party of Korea./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

On the 13th, Kim Du-kwan, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, called for a major reform in the Democratic Party's candidate selection process, stating, "The People Power Party's pursuit is fierce, and the Reform New Party is rapidly absorbing the centrists." Referring to the principle of 'Seondang Husa' (putting the party before oneself), he said, "Representative Lee Jae-myung must step forward, and his close allies must make the decision first. If the leader and his close associates do not take the lead in sacrifice and dedication, who would give up their vested interests?" This is interpreted as a message that pro-Lee faction lawmakers should strategically run in difficult constituencies to demonstrate the attitude of 'Seondang Husa.'

On the same day, Kim posted on his Facebook under the title "This is a crisis. Innovation is needed in the Democratic Party's candidate selection." He shared the reality that the ruling and opposition parties' approval ratings are neck and neck, and the People Power Party, led by emergency committee chairman Han Dong-hoon, is in pursuit. He criticized, "It is due to complacency. Drunk on the victory in the Gangseo by-election and baseless optimism from the hardline support base, internal innovation and party unity were neglected, and the party was divided into pro-Lee and anti-Lee factions, focusing only on candidate selection battles."

Kim said, "This is a crisis for the Democratic Party and for Representative Lee Jae-myung," adding, "If we do not respond to the people's demand for change, nearly 30% of the centrists will be divided between the People Power Party and the Reform New Party, and the Democratic Party will be reduced to the second party with only the hardline support base."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is greeting returning travelers at Yongsan Station in Seoul on the 8th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

He reiterated that candidate selection innovation is necessary. To simultaneously resolve party unity and innovation, he said that key pro-Lee and pro-Moon lawmakers with experience and competitiveness should be strategically placed in the Democratic Party's weak regions of Bu-Ul-Gyeong (Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongnam) and the Chungcheong-Gangwon area. Kim said, "To win the general election, we must win in Bu-Ul-Gyeong," and added, "The party's goal should not be to defend the Nakdong River line but to expand the Bu-Ul-Gyeong belt, and competitive incumbent lawmakers should be massively deployed in Bu-Ul-Gyeong."

He also proposed giving candidate selection incentives for the 2026 local elections' metropolitan government heads to lawmakers running in difficult constituencies. Kim said, "The local elections held one year before the next presidential election are as important as this general election. However, in Bu-Ul-Gyeong and Chungcheong areas, it is difficult to find heavyweight candidates to compete against the incumbent People Power Party governors."

Kim emphasized, "The Democratic Party's candidate selection needs to be inspiring," and said, "To judge the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and save the people, regardless of pro-Lee or pro-Moon factions, we need the spirit of Hwarang Gwan-chang, where vested interests are abandoned and everyone competes to jump into enemy territory."

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