Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said on the 7th, "I love the Democratic Party of Korea as I love the Republic of Korea, as if it were my life," adding, "I will open a golden era of democracy in the sea of party members." Political circles are interpreting this as Kim signaling an intention to run for party leader at the Democratic Party of Korea's national convention scheduled for August to September.
Kim said on his X account (formerly Twitter) that he "told the president of my intention to resign as prime minister and return to the Democratic Party of Korea," and stated accordingly. The post went up after news was announced that President Lee Jae-myung had nominated Minister Han Seong-sook of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups as the next prime minister.
Kim said, "My next mission, after designing the Lee Jae-myung administration's governing plan and serving as the chief of staff for the first cabinet, is to build a strong and competent Democratic Party of Korea that will break through resistance from vested interests and realize the Lee Jae-myung administration's spirit of the times."
Kim also said, "Firmly supporting the Lee Jae-myung administration's spirit of the times is the people's wish and the mission of the Democratic Party of Korea's one million members," adding, "To achieve the three major tasks of governing success, victory in the general election, and consecutive rule, we must become a strong, pragmatic, united Democratic Party that grasps both economic growth and democracy."
Kim said, "The results of the local elections and by-elections call for awakening, vigilance, and innovation from the governing Democratic Party of Korea, which bears unlimited responsibility," adding, "The lesson of the Democratic Party of Korea's history from Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun to Moon Jae-in and Lee Jae-myung is that only party-government unity and a livelihood-focused, pragmatic, and expansive line are the path to success and continuity."
The presidential office said of Kim's offer to resign, "We deeply appreciate Prime Minister Kim's hard work as the government's first prime minister, who overcame turmoil and led the Republic of Korea's recovery." Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik also said the same day, "It would not be far off the mark to say that the Lee Jae-myung administration's achievements over the past year are Prime Minister Kim's achievements."