"Did you become president?" Kim Min-seok's 'Kim Gyeong-soo promotion theory' becomes reality

Kim Min-seok's 'Kim Gyeong-soo promotion theory' that surfaced during the Democratic Party of Korea's party convention is drawing renewed attention following former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Gyeong-soo's appointment as presidential senior policy advisor.

President Lee Jae-myung appointed the former governor as presidential senior policy advisor on the 30th of last month. While not a cabinet position, the role of senior policy advisor involves advising the president on major political and administrative matters.

This personnel decision recalled remarks made by Chairman Kim at a Democratic Party joint campaign event in Gyeongnam on the 2nd of last month. At the time, Kim, who was a candidate for party chairman, said of the former governor, "If possible in the government, he should take on major responsibilities in the government; if possible in the party, he should do so in the party."

In response, Choi Min-hee, then a candidate for senior party leadership, said that Chairman Kim "seems to think he became president" and "is trying to bring Kim Gyeong-soo into the cabinet." Her argument was that it was inappropriate for a party chairman candidate to make remarks related to the president's personnel authority.

Chairman Kim's side countered that Candidate Choi distorted his remarks. They argued that he only said the former governor should take on a role in the government or the party, and never said he would be appointed to the cabinet.

The position of senior policy advisor taken by the former governor is not part of the cabinet. However, as the former governor was appointed as a presidential senior policy advisor who directly advises the president, some observers assess that Chairman Kim's mention of 'major responsibilities in the government' has ultimately become a reality.

Analysis also suggests that President Lee's appointment of the former governor reflects his intention to strengthen solidarity within the ruling bloc, including pro-Moon supporters. The former governor is regarded as a key figure of the pro-Roh and pro-Moon factions, sharing political trajectories with former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in.

A political insider said, "The 'Kim Gyeong-soo promotion theory' that was ammunition for attacks on Chairman Kim during the party convention materialized into actual presidential personnel in less than a month. We need to observe whether Chairman Kim's remarks were based on an understanding within the ruling bloc or whether they coincidentally aligned with President Lee's emphasis on 'merit-based personnel decisions.'"

전시언 기자 yourside@news-s.kr