Kang Byung-won Clarifies Matthew Gospel Remarks: "If You Resist Prosecution Suppression... I Advise You Will Become a Greater Leader"

Late Revelation: "Ranked in Bottom 20% of Elected Officials Evaluation"
Advisory Remarks Misinterpreted as "Statements to Kill Party Leader"
Defeated in June 6th Seoul Eunpyeong-gu Eul Candidate Primary

Assemblyman Kang Byung-won, who was eliminated in the Democratic Party of Korea's primary for the Eunpyeong-gu Eul district in Seoul, revealed belatedly that he was ranked in the 'bottom 20% of elected officials' evaluations. While expressing regret over his defeat in the primary and clarifying the advice he gave to party leader Lee Jae-myung last year, he also conveyed his intention to serve the Democratic Party loyally moving forward.

On the 19th, Kang issued a statement saying, "(I) was in the bottom 20% of elected officials' evaluations," and confessed, "I was ranked among the top in legislative activities such as the number of bills sponsored and passage rates, so it was hard to accept being notified as part of the bottom 20%." He added, "However, to prevent the Eunpyeong-gu Eul primary from becoming a ground for conflict and division, I endured this and quietly participated in the primary," and apologized, saying, "I regret having to reveal this fact belatedly."

Kang Byung-won, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea. / Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

He explained, "After my remarks about the Gospel of Matthew last year, I was stigmatized as a 'watermelon' (a term implying being green on the outside and red inside) for a year, and it felt like everything about me was being denied," adding, "Rather than making excuses, I wanted to be evaluated based on my best efforts in legislative activities, but now I want to clarify my true intentions behind that remark." He continued, "The Gospel of Matthew remark was made last February before the vote on the arrest motion, when Leader Lee asked for candid advice during a luncheon with the 'Democracy 4.0' board members," and said, "I conveyed the passage from Matthew 27, where Jesus bore the cross for humanity's sins, climbed Golgotha hill, and then was resurrected and granted eternal life."

Regarding this, he stated, "(This was) a message given with the conviction that if one boldly confronts the ruthless political persecution by the prosecution, they will be resurrected like Jesus as a greater political leader," but claimed, "My sincere advice was distorted as a 'remark to kill the party leader,' and I ultimately became a target for punishment in the primary." He added, "I never imagined that a single harsh word I directed at the leader would lead to the Gangwon Provincial Party Chairman being allowed to run in Eunpyeong, that I would be ranked in the bottom 20%, and that I would ultimately meet a tragic end," and expressed hope, "I hope such a thing never happens again, and through this writing, I sincerely wish to clear up any misunderstandings."

The Democratic Party announced on the 6th that former Gangwon Provincial Party Chairman Kim Woo-young was selected as the candidate for Eunpyeong-gu Eul, defeating the incumbent Kang. Kim previously served as the standing executive committee member of the DeMinju National Innovation Council, an external organization affiliated with the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction. Although Kim declared his candidacy for Eunpyeong-gu Eul, not Gangwon Province, last December, which raised concerns among the party leadership, he participated in the primary and ultimately won.

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