Kim Min-seok "Conservatives Show Signs of Far-Right Shift... Public Opinion Flow Spreads to Lee Jae-myung Regime Change"

Kim Min-seok, a Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, warned on the 30th about the spread of far-right forces, stating, "Overcoming the far-right has become a new challenge for Korean democracy."

Kim Min-seok, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 18th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

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At a press briefing held at the National Assembly that day, Kim said, "Recent public opinion polls show the consolidation of conservative groups and the rise of far-right forces becoming a reality," expressing concern that "if this trend continues, it will become an important variable in Korean politics."

He cited examples such as "advocacy of martial law and rebellion, the spread of election fraud theories, support for court riots, and the rise of Kim Moon-soo (a candidate for Minister of Employment and Labor in the presidential election)," pointing out that "Jeon Kwang-hoon’s rallies and far-right YouTubers are manipulating the People Power Party and have taken a central position in conservatism."

He continued, "Conservatism is showing signs of far-right radicalization that could combine with violence, terrorism, and fascism beyond New Right," emphasizing that "it is necessary to sever ties with Jeon Kwang-hoon-style extremism."

Kim also analyzed that the recent focus of the People Power Party on 'attacking Lee Jae-myung' is largely influenced by far-right forces. He said, "The People Power Party is obsessed with negative offensives and has not clearly drawn a line between President Yoon Seok-youl and far-right forces," but evaluated that "according to public opinion polls, this strategy is not helping to expand support among moderate voters."

He then advised, "The ruling party should move away from 'attacking Lee Jae-myung,' apologize for martial law, distance itself from President Yoon Seok-youl and far-right forces, and start proper policy competition."

Regarding recent party support, Kim stated, "The flow of moderate voters is important, and among progressives and moderates, support for the impeachment and removal of Yoon Seok-youl, backing for the Democratic Party, and theories of regime change are dominant." He also said, "Responses from conservative groups are showing different patterns from the past, so we are watching carefully," interpreting that "the fact that Representative Lee Jae-myung’s personal approval rating continues to maintain a large lead shows the trend of 'regime change through Lee Jae-myung.'"

Kim also criticized the People Power Party for questioning the fairness of President Yoon’s impeachment trial by raising issues about the friendship between Moon Hyung-bae, Acting Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, and Representative Lee Jae-myung, saying, "The ruling party’s level is regressing excessively."

He pointed out, "I don’t know if they are anticipating Yoon Seok-youl’s removal and laying the groundwork for non-acceptance. Reducing the judicial system to nepotism is a regressive approach that denies the rule of law in the Republic of Korea," and criticized, "The idea that judges who graduated from Seoul National University Law School will favor defendants who also graduated from Seoul National University Law School is a narrow-minded argument."

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