The Democratic Party of Korea on the 23rd appointed former presidential office digital communications secretary Kim Nam-kuk, a member of the "Group of Seven" seen as close aides to President Lee Jae-myung, as party Spokesperson. Park Soo-hyun, the party's chief Spokesperson, met with reporters that morning and announced Kim's appointment.
Spokesperson Kim said, "I thank Representative Jung Chung-rae, the leadership, and all party members for appointing me," and added, "It is a great honor and I feel a heavy sense of responsibility." Kim also said, "I will accurately deliver the voices from livelihoods on the ground to the party, and I will convey the party's message to the public and party members in a simple and clear way," adding, "With humility, I will work to listen more closely to the voices of livelihoods and, through communication, help people feel changes in their lives."
A close schoolmate of the president and classified as part of the "original pro-Lee" camp, Spokesperson Kim served as a 21st National Assembly member (Danwon District B, Ansan) for the Democratic Party. Right after the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration in June, Kim joined the presidential office staff. However, Kim stepped down in December of the same year after it became known that Kim had exchanged "personnel solicitation" text messages with Democratic Party lawmaker Moon Jin-seok. At the time, phrases such as "Hoon-sik hyung" and "Hyun-ji noona" used in texts to Moon led to talk that Kim had effectively acknowledged the "power broker" theory about Blue House First Lady's Office chief Kim Hyun-ji.
While serving as a lawmaker in 2023, Spokesperson Kim was indicted on charges of failing to register virtual assets (coins) as property while holding them. Kim was acquitted in both the first and second trials, and the acquittal became final after prosecutors dropped their appeal. However, after reports said Kim had held coins worth 6 billion won as a public figure, and controversies persisted over trading virtual assets during National Assembly standing committee meetings and confirmation hearings, Kim left the party. During the last presidential election, Kim returned as deputy head of political affairs at Lee Jae-myung's election committee.