Pro-Lee Lawmaker Kim Says Party Leaders Should Grow Into Presidential Contenders

Kim Young-jin, a Democratic Party lawmaker in the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction, said regarding the upcoming party leadership race that "rather than monopolizing party leadership through consecutive terms, it would be better for various people to serve as party leader and grow into presidential contenders."

Kim made the remarks Wednesday while appearing on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus of Attention," saying, "It is necessary to give opportunities to various people." He added, "That is why I also raised critical views even when Lee Jae-myung served consecutive terms as party leader."

Earlier, Kim Min-seok, a leading party leadership contender and former prime minister, said Tuesday, "Is there a need to serve as party leader twice?" in remarks aimed at former leader Jung Chung-rae, who is seeking a consecutive term. As a result, Kim Young-jin's latest comments were interpreted as checking Jung while throwing support behind Kim Min-seok.

However, Kim Young-jin guarded against an expanded interpretation, saying it was "a principled stance unrelated to supporting lawmaker Kim Min-seok." He added, "Former leader Jung did not serve the full two-year term but a one-year by-election term, so he is running based on his own vision to serve as party leader more properly, and I believe party members will evaluate that in their own way." Given that Jung's term was short, he described it as "a 1.5 consecutive term rather than a re-election." Besides Jung, he also said, "Lawmaker Song Young-gil is also challenging for re-election as party leader."

Regarding the recent overheating of the primary race, Kim said, "The contenders running in the national convention carry considerable weight," explaining that "because the three current contenders — former leader Jung, former Prime Minister Kim, and lawmaker Song — have largely similar political careers and standing, that is a point where it appears more intense."

Asked whether it was because the party leader elected this time would hold nomination authority for the next general election to be held in 2028, he said, "That is quite substantially hidden," but added, "Because the Democratic Party is not a party that makes artificial nominations, it is not appropriate to fight over it as if life depends on it." On the influence over the next presidential race, he said, "There is quite substantially such influence," adding, "It is natural to become a leader of the Democratic Party through the party leadership and for a Democratic Party leader to grow into a presidential candidate." This means the new party leader rises to the ranks of leading contenders for the next presidency.

On the so-called "one-member, one-vote system," which some within the party are calling to supplement in terms of advantages or disadvantages for a particular candidate, he said, "The party leadership primary should be conducted according to principle," and "It is not appropriate to touch the one-member, one-vote system again and pursue yet another dispute." Noting that the national convention is imminent, he added, "It is not appropriate to change the system or the rules."