Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 20th pledged, "I will follow in the footsteps of the 'game maker' who, based on former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan's wisdom, resolve, and transparency in putting the party first, will design a grand plan leading to the next general election and continued governance."
Kim said this while paying respects that morning at the grave of the former prime minister at Sejong Eunhasu Park. Joining him were Sejong Mayor Cho Sang-ho, chief of staff to the party leader Kim Tae-seon, Sejong party chair Lee Kang-jin, and Spokesperson Lee Yong-woo.
Wearing a gray suit, black tie, and white gloves, Kim, after a moment of silence, began, "After visiting the National Cemetery the day before, I paid respects to former Presidents Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in and had a conversation of more than five hours in the evening with President Lee Jae-myung."
He continued, "Today I am paying respects to the former prime minister and former Chair Kim Geun-tae," adding, "Both are revered elders of the democratic camp and have a special historical connection with me."
In particular, regarding the former prime minister, he recalled, "If President Kim Dae-jung was my political mentor and a father-like figure, the former prime minister was the one who taught me elections and was like a strict yet warm older brother."
He added, "The former prime minister is the 'god of elections,' and in 1995 he ran the then-groundbreaking campaign for former Mayor Cho Soon that laid the first groundwork for a change of government. As a result, starting from nearly 4% support, it produced the amazing outcome of winning."
Kim also said, "Watching the strategy of the former prime minister, the first strategist in our opposition's history to analyze polls and run an election, I learned how to run elections and learned the so-called theme- and issue-centered campaigning."
Kim confessed, "During President Kim Dae-jung's campaign, I decided to leave the party for a unity candidacy, and what weighed on me most and made me feel sorry was that I could not tell the former prime minister."
He recalled that later, during Moon Jae-in's presidential campaign, when the former prime minister served as a co-chair and he himself worked as head of the general situation room, the former prime minister said, "Lately your messages seem quite good," adding, "That was a kind of forgiveness for me."
Kim went on to stress, "While running President Lee Jae-myung's campaign, the former prime minister served as a co-chair and I served as head of the general situation office, and it was the 'most brilliant election' we ran together and the election that created the Democratic Party's current seat count."
Kim emphasized, "The former prime minister's politics were, first, politics of serving the public before oneself and putting the party first, and second, politics of building the game board," adding, "I believe he did politics not to make himself something, but to build the board for a broad camp and force. I, too, am determined to carry on the lineage of the 'game maker.'"
In addition, Kim said, "After appointing Kim Nam-joon as head of public relations, my first directive was to mandate two banners nationwide," adding, "One reads, 'We will open a golden era of democracy,' and the other reads, 'Jo Hee-de, who destroys the rule of law, must step down.'"
Earlier, Kim criticized Chief Justice Jo Hee-de for recommending two Supreme Court justice nominees in writing, saying, "By breaking the practice of prior coordination with the Blue House and submitting written recommendations, he is trying to confront the president." Party leadership also called for his resignation and moved to seek impeachment.