'Studying in the UK' Former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo Temporarily Returns to Attend Roh 15th Memorial Ceremony

Visiting Professor for One Year at London School of Economics
Former Democratic Party Member to Fully Return This August When Party Convention Held

Former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, who is studying in the UK, will briefly return to attend the 15th anniversary memorial service for former President Roh Moo-hyun.

According to the opposition on the 12th, former Governor Kim will return on the 19th and attend the 15th anniversary memorial service for former President Roh, held on the 23rd in Bongha Village, Gimhae, Gyeongnam. His side stated, "After attending the memorial service and completing personal schedules, he plans to return to the UK next month." Kim left for the London School of Economics and Political Science in the UK last August as a visiting professor for a one-year term. As scheduled, Kim is expected to return in August this year when the Democratic Party's national convention is held.

Former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, involved in the Druking comment manipulation case, is responding to reporters' questions as he moves to the courtroom to attend the appeal trial held at the Seoul High Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on September 19, 2019. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Kim, who was the last secretary to former President Roh, along with former Deputy Director Yang Jeong-cheol of the Democratic Research Institute, played a decisive role in establishing the Moon Jae-in administration and is considered the legitimate heir of the pro-Moon faction that split from the pro-Roh faction. He was elected governor of Gyeongnam in the June 2018 local elections, the year after the Moon Jae-in government took office, but was sentenced to two years in prison for the 'Druking comment manipulation' case and served his sentence until he was specially pardoned in December 2022. However, his civil rights have not been restored, and he is restricted from running for office until May 2028. Therefore, it is impossible for him to run in the presidential election scheduled for March 2027.

"Possibility of rallying the non-Myeong faction centered on former Governor Kim"

However, inside and outside the Democratic Party, there is a sentiment that after Kim’s return in August, the non-Myeong faction may rally around him. Some within the pro-Moon camp also mention former Governor Kim as a potential candidate to oppose party leader Lee Jae-myung, who faces judicial risks. Additionally, although the pro-Moon faction’s influence within the party decreased in the last general election, there is speculation that Kim’s future role could expand their power through alliances with groups like the Jo Guk Innovation Party, which shares the same roots.

The Roh Moo-hyun Foundation has set this year’s memorial service theme as "Today's practice is tomorrow's history." This theme is taken from a past speech by former President Roh. In December 2004, during an invited visit to Sorbonne University in France, Roh said, "History asks you: What have you learned from history, and what future do you dream of? Your thoughts and actions today will become tomorrow’s history."

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