Ruling Party's Top Next Supporter Kim Moon-soo "Never Considered Running for President... Impeachment Must Be Dismissed"

The Reason Behind Rising Approval Ratings:
"I Only Spoke Common Sense"

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo is answering reporters' questions after the party-government consultation meeting for the introduction of special exceptions to the 52-hour workweek under the Semiconductor Special Act held at the National Assembly on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Kim Moon-soo, Minister of Employment and Labor, who had ranked first in support among ruling party candidates for the next presidential election in various opinion polls, responded on the 4th to a question about his intention to run in the upcoming presidential election by saying, "I have not considered or thought about it at all."

After concluding the 'Party-Government Consultative Meeting on the Semiconductor Special Act' at the National Assembly that day, Minister Kim told reporters, "Although there is a possibility of an early presidential election as the impeachment trial of President Yoon Seok-yeol is underway, it is still too early to make a definitive judgment."

Minister Kim has recently been mentioned as a potential ruling party candidate, ranking second in preference for the next leader in opinion polls, following Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

When asked whether he would declare his candidacy if the impeachment motion is adopted, he avoided a direct answer, saying, "It would be disrespectful to both the president and the people, and it does not align with my conscience."

Regarding the rise in his support in opinion polls, Minister Kim said, "I have not done anything special; I have only spoken common sense," adding, "I have said nothing other than 'It would be better if the president is not detained,' 'It would be good if the president is released,' and 'It would be better if there is no impeachment.'

Minister Kim stated that if he had attended the Cabinet meeting, he would have opposed martial law, but he believes the impeachment trial of President Yoon should be dismissed. He evaluated, "Our country's presidents keep getting impeached, and we continue to experience an unfortunate history."

Regarding plans to visit President Yoon in the future, he said, "I have no plans right now, but I don't know about the future," adding, "I hope (President Yoon) will be released soon."

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