Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said criticism of President Lee Jae-myung from within his own party resembles the early warning signs that preceded the impeachment drive against former President Roh Moo-hyun. "Aren't we heading toward a situation similar to the prelude when forces inside and outside joined hands to impeach President Roh, just as he was settling in during his first year?" he said. With disagreements over Lee's handling of state affairs continuing inside the ruling bloc, Kim stressed that "now is the time to stay sharp and pull together."
Kim made the remarks on the 14th on "Minty 07," a program on the Democratic Party's official YouTube channel, Democratic Party TV, saying it was "a time to gather strength and push forward." He took direct aim at criticism of Lee coming from within the party, saying, "I can let it pass when it comes from people outside, but this is a bit absurd."
He also publicly took issue with Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae's criticism of Lee over prosecution reform. "I think people found it puzzling that these were the words of a responsible Democratic Party politician, a provincial governor," Kim said. "There is a high chance people did not generally think of them as remarks from a senior Democratic Party figure."
Choo had earlier criticized Lee over matters including the nomination of a former prosecutor as candidate to head the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, asking, "The president is supposed to punish these insurrection forces, so why is he being carried by them and agonizing over it?" Kim responded by again calling for an explanation, saying, "I think she needs to explain herself a bit on why she put it this way."
On the controversy over Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de and the renomination of Supreme Court justices, Kim signaled far-reaching judicial reform. "Because everyone is angry, from the party's standpoint, myself included, we are gauging the boiling point," he said. "Since there has to be a national consensus along with a legal judgment, aren't we heading toward that boiling point?"
He added that the country is "moving toward making the abnormal normal, toward normalization, and this must run through prosecution reform and lead to stronger police reform and stronger judicial reform."
On the decision by Rep. Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party to withdraw as nominee for minister of gender equality and family, Kim said, "Isn't public sentiment above the law?" He said that holding a proportional representation seat and a ministerial post at the same time is not illegal, but that "by convention, it is generally common sense to give up one of them," stressing that "public opinion matters."
Rep. Kim Tae-sun, Kim's chief of staff, said the previous day that he had advised Yong to withdraw, and Yong said she had been asked to make a decision in light of the limited breadth of public support.
Kim said, however, that he would continue to expand cooperation with progressive parties. "With the Rebuilding Korea Party, we need to discuss a merger and cooperation and align our positions, while with the Basic Income Party, the Social Democratic Party and the Progressive Party, unconditional cooperation was already in place," he said. "Going forward, I will be more active on progressive cooperation."
The party will also expand organizations dedicated to reform and people's livelihoods. Kim said he had finalized "Mega 12," expanding the existing 10 special reform bodies known as "Mega Ten" to 12, and that he would launch a new "Committee on Dignified Livelihoods," which he will chair himself. Former National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik will serve as standing adviser.
"A basic society with dignity, a life with dignity — that is the direction for livelihoods and state affairs that the Democratic Party wants to guarantee for all citizens," Kim said. "I will focus on that going forward."
