Reform Party Seoul mayoral candidate Kim Jeong-cheol is known as the lawyer who represented victims of the "Lime scandal," in which damages alone reached 1.6 trillion won. For the first time ever, a court recognized "fraud rescission" against a financial institution, and he won a first-instance ruling ordering 100% restitution of victims' investments. It was also Kim's achievement to file a constitutional petition that led to a ruling of constitutional nonconformity prohibiting investigative agencies from obtaining subscribers' personal information and communications data from telecom companies without notice.
The David who slung stones at Goliaths such as the government of Korea and financial institutions has now jumped into the Seoul mayoral race. In a contest dominated by the two major parties, the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party, the Reform Party candidate is once again trying to pull off an upset.
On the afternoon of the 21st at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Kim criticized candidates Chong Won-o and Oh Se-hoon fielded by the two major parties, saying, "They cannot represent 10 million citizens. At a time when Seoul must make a fresh leap, they are the ones who will hold it back." Kim said, "I entered the race to represent the quiet majority that is fed up with the two major parties and wants politics to change," adding, "With the decisiveness and execution that beat the government of Korea and giant law firms like Kim & Chang, I will change Seoul."
The following is a Q&A with Kim.
- What led you to move from lawyer to politician.
"While representing victims of the 'Lime scandal,' I won Korea's first ruling punishing a financial institution. But aside from winning that one case, little changed. I thought politics must change to affect the quiet majority and protect fundamental rights."
- Your assessment of Chong Won-o and Oh Se-hoon.
"Candidate Chong Won-o is a defective product. He is merely a defective product wrapped in Lee Jae-myung's packaging, and is even engaging in misselling. This must be stopped. In a criminal trial over an assault while intoxicated 31 years ago, he claims diminished or lost mental capacity while bringing up May 18. Since he testified that he does not remember, that amounts to loss of mental capacity. If he has memories of May 18, he cannot claim loss of mental capacity. A person who cannot apologize for wrongdoing, who drags May 18 into excuses—such a person is not fit to be Seoul mayor."
- Are you saying Chong Won-o is less qualified than Oh Se-hoon.
"Oh Se-hoon is the person who stalled Seoul. Even if reelected, he would stall Seoul's development with showcase administration. I think Chong Won-o could even drive Seoul backward. In that sense, Chong is the bigger problem. That said, I believe Oh should properly apologize for the missing rebar issue in the GTX and present safety measures. Even if it was a matter of the construction company, it happened while he was mayor of Seoul, so shouldn't there be a sincere apology and message?"
- Is there a possibility of an alliance with Oh Se-hoon or the People Power Party.
"We must distinguish between a policy alliance and an election alliance. It is necessary to unite when saying what is right. Joining with Oh Se-hoon when criticizing the Lee Jae-myung administration's real estate policy or the issue of dropping prosecutions is in the same vein. Likewise, we can coordinate in pointing out Chong Won-o's problems."
- Real estate is the biggest issue in the Seoul mayoral race. What are Kim Jeong-cheol's real estate pledges.
"Preventing legal disputes during reconstruction and redevelopment maintenance projects is the shortcut to rapid progress. Candidate Chong Won-o says he will shorten permitting procedures, but that has little meaning. Even now, permits are fast enough; projects are delayed by legal disputes on the back end.
As practical measures to prevent legal disputes, I announced three pledges. First, to prevent infighting over union chair positions, I will introduce a public union-chair system. Second, ghostwriting and forgery of documents submitted at various general meetings are serious problems, and I will solve this by introducing Blockchain and electronic signatures. Lastly, I will introduce a system using AI to inform residents of appropriate cost shares. Maintenance projects take 15 years, but just resolving legal disputes can shorten that to seven or eight years."
- You held your kickoff rally at Sadang Station. Any special reason.
"The areas our party considers most important in Seoul are Gwanak and Dongjak. Sadang sits between the two and is also a thoroughfare for people commuting from Gyeonggi Province. Our party's Cho Eung-cheon is running for Gyeonggi governor, and Seoul and Gyeonggi could also roll out joint transportation pledges. I believed Sadang could deliver the Reform Party's message of integration on the Seoul mayor, Gyeonggi governor, and the greater capital region."
- Political realignment is expected to pick up after the local elections. What is the Reform Party's plan.
"The People Power Party is in a phase of extinction. There is no potential for development. Over the supplementary investigation authority and the dropping of prosecutions, the Lee Jae-myung administration could collapse or be impeached. When the two major parties crumble, someone must be the alternative force. In these local elections, those who work sincerely and deliver messages will become the vessel capable of holding that role."
☞ Who is Kim Jeong-cheol
Born in Yeosu, South Jeolla, he moved to Seoul as a child and attended Seoul Deoksu Elementary School, Hanseong Middle School, and Mapo High School before graduating from the law department at Korea University. After working as a lecturer specializing in criminal law, he passed the bar exam and became a lawyer. As a lawyer, he represented victims of the Lime scandal and won. After joining the Reform Party, he served as chief spokesperson and then as a supreme council member.