Kim Yong, a former deputy head of the Democratic Research Institute and an associate of President Lee Jae-myung, publicly supported Park Chan-dae, a candidate for the leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea, through a message from prison.

Former Vice President Kim Yong of the Democratic Research Institute attends the appeal trial for violations of the Political Fund Act and bribery under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Specific Crimes at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on August 26, 2024, in the afternoon. /Courtesy of News1

Oh Dong-hyun, a lawyer and the standing representative of the Democratic Innovation Council, posted on Facebook on the 14th saying, "I visited Kim Yong and conveyed his message from prison."

According to the lawyer, the former deputy head stated, "I thank Park Chan-dae for promising to do his best for a change of power and to quickly complete the judicial reform and eradication of the forces of insurrection that the people desire, and I support him to be elected as party leader."

He added, "Proper judicial reform must involve institutional reform and the eradication of the personnel involved in manipulative prosecution," and he urged, "Let's not stop with the imprisonment of Yoon Suk-yeol, the leader of the insurrection, but let's ensure that his subordinates and the political prosecutors are also held accountable to face the judgment of history."

The former deputy head is currently imprisoned after being sentenced to five years in prison for charges of receiving illegal political funds and bribes from private business operators in Daejang-dong. He assisted President Lee, who was then the governor of Gyeonggi Province, after serving as a city councilor in Seongnam and later as a spokesperson for the Gyeonggi Provincial Government. He is considered one of President Lee's key aides in the 'Gyeonggi-Seongnam line' during the last presidential election.

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