Kim Yong, former deputy head of the Democracy Research Institute and considered President Lee Jae-myung's closest aide, signaled an intention to run in the parliamentary by-election to be held alongside the June 3 local elections. Because he is even nicknamed the "authentic Lee identifier," the constituency Kim wants to run in is highly likely to select him as the final candidate. That is why people inside and outside the Democratic Party are watching Kim's moves.
Kim said on a radio program on the 11th that he is considering running in the by-election. Kim was convicted in the first and second trials on suspicion of receiving presidential campaign funds and given a prison term that would strip him of eligibility to run for office, and he is currently out on bail awaiting the Supreme Court's ruling.
In a radio interview, Kim said, "With almost everything revealed that the prosecution fabricated my case, I cannot put my life on hold just because of the Supreme Court's decision," adding, "In the case of Cho Kuk, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, Cho was convicted in the second trial and elected through proportional representation, and Rep. Hwang Unha is the same."
Political attention is on which constituency Kim will run in. A Democratic Party official said, "If Kim decides to run, those who had been preparing for the by-election in that constituency will have no choice but to step aside," adding, "That's how big Kim Yong's presence is."
Starting with the National Assembly on Feb. 12, Kim traveled around the country holding book launch events. He toured Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on Feb. 20; Gwangju on Feb. 22; Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, on Feb. 25; Busan on Feb. 28; and Daejeon on Mar. 2. Kim said, "In regions like Gangwon and Jeju, where I was unable to set a schedule, I will prepare to meet in a different format."
In every region he visited, Kim was also seen meeting and encouraging ruling-bloc politicians preparing to run in the local elections. He also served as fundraising committee chair for several preliminary candidates for basic local government heads, including Baek Ju-seon (Namyangju mayor), Jang Gi-su (Cheonan mayor), Seo Jin-ung (Bucheon mayor), Cheon Beom-ryong (Gwanak district chief), Seo Young-hak (Yeosu mayor), Jeong Young-du (Gimhae mayor), Choi Seung-won (Goyang mayor), Je Jong-gil (Ansan mayor), and Lee In-hwa (Seongdong district chief). He is also serving on the mentor team for former Deputy Prime Minister Yoo Eun-hye's camp in the Gyeonggi superintendent of education race.
In political circles, many believe that because Kim showcased his presence through a nationwide tour, he could run anywhere, not limited to Gyeonggi. The most likely area for now is Gyeonggi Province. Having served as a Seongnam City Council member and as Gyeonggi Provincial Government Spokesperson, Kim is seen as highly likely to leverage his base in Gyeonggi.
Initially, Pyeongtaek was strongly mentioned, but recently there has also been talk of Ansan A. Ansan A is the constituency of Rep. Yang Moon-seok, who received a ruling from the Supreme Court invalidating his election over a Gangnam apartment loan fraud. Although Yang has hinted at filing a constitutional complaint, political circles believe that because he fell due to a personal corruption case, Ansan A, his constituency, is highly likely to face a by-election.
Some also question whether it is appropriate for Kim to run in a by-election before the Supreme Court's ruling. In the second trial last year on Feb., Kim was sentenced to five years in prison. Even if Kim is elected in the by-election in June, if the Supreme Court finalizes a prison sentence, the election will be invalidated.