Kim Min-seok Becomes Focal Point of Politics with Aggressive Remarks

Kim Min-seok, the new Democratic Party leader who has displayed aggressive rhetoric immediately after taking office, is consolidating his leadership by drawing political issues toward himself.

According to political circles on the 20th, after Kim raised the possibility of resignation and impeachment regarding Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's nomination for the Supreme Court, major politicians from both ruling and opposition parties have responded one after another, with political attention focusing on Kim shortly after his inauguration.

On the 19th, Kim stated at a field senior leadership meeting held at the Busan City Democratic Party headquarters, “I believe Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, the worst chief justice since liberation, should step down.”

Kim's aggressive remarks have continued. He has characterized Cho's Supreme Court nominee appointment as ‘judicial manipulation’ and, refusing to call him chief justice, referred to him as “legal technique director.” He also compared Chief Justice Cho to “a delinquent student who breaks a window then begs to be expelled and promises not to study anymore.”

Compared to Kim's rhetoric during the party convention, which emphasized internal unity and external expansion, these are exceptionally strong expressions.

Kim's remarks prompted immediate reactions from political circles. As Kim elevated the controversy surrounding the Supreme Court nominee nomination to a political issue, major figures from both ruling and opposition parties began responding to his statements in unison.

From the ruling party, lawmaker Kim Young-jin (3-term, Democratic Party, Suwon District B), known as an ‘original pro-Moon’ figure but who has shown cautious moves on political issues, stepped forward first to lend support.

On the 20th, Lawmaker Kim said on SBS Radio regarding Chief Justice Cho, “The knot must be untied by oneself; judgment and responsibility come first.”

Regarding impeachment, he drew a line that nothing official is underway, but took a position that Cho should personally decide not only whether to withdraw the nomination but also his own future.

With senior lawmakers also publicly raising the same issue, the political scope of the agenda set by Kim and his political influence are expanding.

From the opposition, major contenders responded immediately. People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk (2-term, Boryeong-Seocheon) and independent lawmaker Han Dong-hun (first-term, Busan Northern District) directly targeted Kim and joined the political front he created.

Notably, Leader Jang's offensive extended to President Lee Jae-myung, but its starting point was Kim.

At a supreme leadership meeting on the 20th, Leader Jang stated, “Kim's first statement upon taking office was impeaching the chief justice,” and if Kim's remarks follow the president's will, “then President Lee Jae-myung's grounds for impeachment are clear.”

Though this was an intensified attack on the president, the immediate target was Kim. As the opposition heightens its attack level against the president, Kim serves as a conduit, creating a structure where Kim becomes the center of ruling and opposition confrontation.

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hun also directly targeted Kim rather than the president.

Han echoed Kim's referring to Chief Justice Cho as ‘Mr. Cho Hee-dae’ and said, “Mr. Kim Min-seok has become Democratic Party leader but seems to think he is a king.” He also stated, “Mr. Kim Min-seok, come to your senses. South Korea is a democratic republic with separated powers.”

As a result, with ruling party veterans lending support to Kim's aggressive remarks and opposition contenders directly counterattacking, Kim has positioned himself at the center of political conflict shortly after taking office. Though the opposition's ultimate target is the president, as attacks pass through Kim, political attention is instead converging on the new ruling party leader.

Rather than responding to political issues, Kim is making the political arena respond to the issues he raises, rapidly securing political initiative.

A political figure said, “Through a series of strong statements shortly after taking office, Kim has made ruling party veterans as well as key opposition figures like Jang Dong-hyuk and Han Dong-hun center their reactions on him.” The figure added, “In politics, what matters is not who is attacked but who sets the agenda and makes others respond. As Kim brings political attention to himself, he is rapidly expanding his leadership as the new party leader.”

전시언 기자 yourside@news-s.kr