Kim Tae-heum, the Governor of South Chungcheong Province, stated that he would not run in the early presidential election triggered by the impeachment of the president.
Governor Kim, a member of the People Power Party, explained on his Facebook account on the 10th, "I will not run in the early presidential election and will be loyal to the affairs of South Chungcheong Province." Kim was considered one of the 'potential candidates' expected to participate in the People Power Party presidential primary.
Since the confirmation of the early presidential election, Governor Kim has received direct and indirect requests from local political circles to run as a representative candidate for the Chungcheong region. During a provincial council inquiry held the previous day, a council member from the same party publicly revealed, "There is a strong public sentiment that it would be good for the governor to participate in the primary as a representative of the Chungcheong region."
In particular, it became known that a breakfast meeting of governors from the four provinces in the Chungcheong region was scheduled for that day, raising speculation that the governors would nominate Kim as a representative candidate for the region. However, the breakfast meeting was abruptly canceled the previous afternoon. Kim stated, "I have thought a lot about the mission and role assigned to me, but I have concluded that now is not the time for me, Kim Tae-heum," making his intention not to run clear.
Amid the feverish atmosphere within the party, with candidates declaring their intentions to run one after another, it is expected that there is a judgment that there is relatively less time compared to other candidates who have been preparing for the presidential election for a long period.
Within the People Power Party, projections of "up to 20 candidates" are emerging. Governor Kim noted on Facebook, "South Korea faces a serious situation both domestically and internationally, and the political chaos arising from extreme factionalism and the global tariff war is increasing uncertainty, making the situation chaotic," adding, "Running for president should not become a means for political career advancement or preparation for the next election, which is my principle, and my preparations are also insufficient."
The People Power Party called for understanding of the "tight schedule," but stated, "If the election is held simply by relying on anti-Lee Jae-myung sentiment, it will lead to certain failure," requesting that reflection and self-examination regarding the impeachment of the party-affiliated president should come first. He also emphasized, "We must present the philosophy and future vision of conservatism in the early presidential election and use it as an opportunity for transformation, and I will do my best to find a role that I can play while being loyal to provincial affairs."