Kim Yong-nam, the Democratic Party candidate for Pyeongtaek-B in Gyeonggi Province running in the June 3 by-elections, apologized on Wednesday for his past remarks on the Sewol ferry disaster and his role in former President Yoon Suk-yeol's presidential campaign. The apology appears to come as his rival Cho Kuk, of the Rebuilding Korea Party, has intensified attacks on Kim's past record in recent days.
"I bow my head and apologize to the bereaved families of the Sewol victims," Kim wrote on Facebook that day. "I failed to fully grasp how deeply my remarks at the time would wound the hearts of families who lost beloved children and relatives," he said. "In the face of pain that nothing in this world can fully console, my expressions were far too immature. I reflect deeply and offer my apology."
In 2015, while a member of the Saenuri Party, the predecessor of the People Power Party, Kim had said of the special investigation commission into the Sewol disaster, "Throughout its entire activity period, it has done nothing but waste taxpayers' money." He also said, "The commission has essentially filled nearly all 120 positions with people who have so-called past activist backgrounds or are still engaged in that kind of activity, and absurdly claims it will investigate the president's seven-hour whereabouts on the day the Sewol sank."
Kim also addressed his role as spokesperson for Yoon Suk-yeol's campaign during the 2022 presidential election. "The ties from working together as prosecutors more than 20 years ago and memories from that time clouded my judgment," he explained. "After realizing the reality, I have taken the microphone ahead of anyone else and focused on exposing the wrongdoings of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration."
"The fact that I served as spokesperson for the Yoon Suk-yeol presidential campaign will remain a major stain on my life, but I will never deny it or try to erase it," he added. "Taking that mistake as a bitter lesson, I will dedicate the rest of my political life to walking with all of you and leading the effort to make the Republic of Korea a stronger bastion of democracy."
Kim Hyun-jung, a Democratic Party lawmaker representing Pyeongtaek-C, shared Kim's Facebook post in a show of support, saying, "For unity and the future, let us win under the Democratic Party's name to nationalize the party and expand its reach."
