Kim Min-seok extends hand to Yong Hye-in while sharpening blade toward Choo Mi-ae

Kim Min-seok, the leader of the Democratic Party, has extended an olive branch to Yong Hye-in, a Basic Income Party lawmaker who stepped down following nominations controversy for a ministerial post, while repeatedly sharpening his blade toward Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae.

According to political circles on the 14th, Chairman Kim appeared on the Democratic Party's YouTube broadcast that day and said of Lawmaker Yong, who voluntarily resigned from the position of Minister of Gender Equality and Family, "(Although she resigned) Lawmaker Yong also has a role to play, so we will move more actively on progressive alliances in the future."

It appears that Chairman Kim, who is known to have directly encouraged the decision during Lawmaker Yong's withdrawal process from the ministerial candidacy, has extended his hand again just days later.

Regarding the controversy over Lawmaker Yong's concurrent positions as a National Assembly member and cabinet member, Chairman Kim drew a line by saying "it is not illegal," while also stating that "conventionally and by common sense, it is normal that one would step down from one of the positions."

He positioned the withdrawal from candidacy as a political decision reflecting "public sentiment," while actually strengthening support for political cooperation with Lawmaker Yong as an individual and the Basic Income Party.

By contrast, Chairman Kim's message toward Governor Choo was different.

On the 12th, Governor Choo criticized President Lee Jae-myung at a memorial service for Gyeonggi Province democracy movement martyrs held at Moran Park in Namyangju, questioning the nomination of Kim Ji-yong, a candidate for head of the Serious Crime Investigation Division who has a prosecution background, and asked, "Why should we punish traitorous forces, yet appear anxious and helpless in their grip?"

Chairman Kim directly called this out publicly.

He said, "If we were to conduct a blind test and people heard that remark, how would they evaluate it?" and continued, "If it is a statement from a responsible politician of the Democratic Party and a provincial governor, people would likely find it odd." He added, "We need an explanation from Governor Choo herself regarding why she made such remarks."

Chairman Kim also issued strong warnings regarding party criticism directed at the president.

He said, "At a time when we need to unite our strength, this resembles a precursor to when internal and external forces conspired to impeach President Roh Moo-hyun just as he was settling into office. We must be vigilant now and all unite our strength."

Although he did not directly designate Governor Choo's remarks as a "prelude to impeachment," evaluations suggest that his warning level toward the critical faction within the party is considerable, given that he questioned the governor's presidential criticism on the same broadcast.

Tension between Chairman Kim and Governor Choo is not new.

On the 11th, to commemorate 100 days since the launch of local governments, Chairman Kim announced that he would conduct a comprehensive review of the budgets, projects, and election promises of Democratic Party-affiliated provincial and municipal leaders, stating "because we are from the same ruling party, we will not do this 'nicely,' but will firmly 'wield the whip' to ensure things are done well."

In Gyeonggi Province, there are ongoing controversies over the appropriateness of Governor Choo's designation of the province's finances as essentially in a "default state" and her subsequent financial restructuring. The observation that Chairman Kim's promised "whipping" could be directed at Gyeonggi Province stems from the possibility that the Democratic Party's inspection of local governments may include Governor Choo's financial management and election promises.

Four days after his initial announcement, Chairman Kim's "whipping" appears to have extended beyond local government policy and promise reviews to public criticism of Governor Choo's political remarks.

While extending his hand once more to Lawmaker Yong from outside the party, who carries the political burden of ministerial candidacy withdrawal, by saying she "has a role to play," Chairman Kim has repeatedly sharpened his blade publicly against Governor Choo, a senior member of his own party and influential provincial leader, making the temperature difference between how he treats the two increasingly stark.

A political insider said, "Toward Lawmaker Yong, he quickly contained the controversy through the candidacy withdrawal and reopened the door to alliance, while toward Governor Choo, he is publicly applying brakes not only on local government management but also on messages directed at the president. It appears Chairman Kim is broadening alliances outside the party while attempting to tighten ranks within the party centered on the president."

전시언 취재편집부문 대표 yourside@suwonilbo.kr