Park Soo-hyun, the Democratic Party candidate for South Chungcheong governor in the June 3 local elections, said Kim Yong's candidacy "must be guaranteed," addressing the controversy over the former Minjoo Research Institute vice president's potential run. Kim is known as a close aide to President Lee Jae-myung. Park, widely viewed as part of the pro-Chung Chung-rae (pro-Chung) faction, pushed back on characterizations of his factional ties, saying, "I am pro-Chungcheong."
Appearing on YTN Radio's "Jang Sung-chul's News Myeongdang" on the 20th, Park addressed Kim's potential candidacy in the by-election. "I understand there are opposing views that he should not run before the Supreme Court's final ruling, as well as views that his candidacy must be guaranteed because his case symbolizes a victim of the prosecution's fabricated indictment. I lean toward the latter," he said. He added, "President Lee's case of prosecutorial fabrication has had such a strong effect, and this is linked to it. No matter how much the individual — the former vice president — received a guilty verdict, my personal view is that there are deeply unfair aspects."
However, he said, "I reserve judgment on whether running for the National Assembly is the only way to resolve this injustice and reveal the truth." He continued, "Because there are unfair aspects and a strong symbolic dimension of being a victim of the prosecution's fabricated indictment, I believe the individual should be given an opportunity."
On the timing of his resignation from the National Assembly to run for governor, Park said, "It will take place on either April 29 or 30." He said, "This is not a trick to push the resignation into May and defer the by-election to next year." He added, "It is already regrettable that I cannot complete my full term as a lawmaker. How could I choose to leave the seat vacant for even one more day?" The remarks rebutted observations in some quarters that the Democratic Party leadership might delay the resignation — concerned that the People Power Party could take the seat — in order to push the by-election in the district from June 3 to next year.
Asked about his factional affiliation, Park said, "Few politicians have engaged in less factional activity than I have," adding, "I served as Blue House spokesperson and senior secretary under President Moon Jae-in, but I was not part of the pro-Moon faction." He continued, "From now on, since I am the candidate for South Chungcheong governor, I thought I should form a faction as 'pro-Chungcheong.'"
On President Lee's campaign pledge to relocate the presidential office to Sejong City during his term, Park said, "It will of course help (the South Chungcheong election)." He added, "I am confident that once Sejong City is completed as the administrative capital, it will become the core hub for all of South Chungcheong, North Chungcheong, Daejeon and the entire central region."
