Kim Nam-joon, former presidential spokesman, has officially announced his candidacy for the Incheon Gyeyang-eul constituency in the June by-election. Known as a close confidant of President Lee Jae-myung, Kim emphasized his connection to the district, where he began his career as a parliamentary aide during Lee's tenure as a lawmaker, directly addressing criticism over his lack of local ties.
After a meeting with Democratic Party of Korea leader Chung Chung-rae at the National Assembly on the 24th, Kim told reporters, "I visited the party leader to mark my return to the party after completing my role as presidential spokesman. I conveyed my intention to run, and the leader offered words of encouragement."
The closed-door meeting between Chung and Kim lasted approximately 50 minutes and reportedly covered not only his by-election bid but also his work and reflections from his time at the presidential office. "I shared how I had been working and the difficulties I faced," Kim said.
Kim pushed back against criticism that he lacks strong ties to Gyeyang-eul. "When President Lee Jae-myung ran in the parliamentary by-election, I campaigned in Gyeyang and was even indicted by the People Power Party in the process," he said. "The people of Gyeyang helped me get acquitted."
He added, "The President's term as a lawmaker started in Gyeyang-eul, and I joined as his aide at the same time. My career as an aide began in Gyeyang, so I have connections with the residents, and I am now a Gyeyang resident myself."
On the question of coordinating with rival candidate Song Young-gil, former Democratic Party leader, Kim said, "My intention to run is clear, but I will naturally follow the party's decision. I will comply with whatever the party decides." When asked about the possibility of running in another Incheon constituency, he remained cautious, saying only, "As before, I have stated my intention."