Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 29th, "If the People Power Party truly inherits former President Kim Young-sam (YS)'s spirit, expel Lee Jin-sook; if not, take down Kim's photo from the party leader's office."
Kim attended the opening of Rep. Park Hong-bae's district office in Sasang-gu, Busan, that day and stated accordingly.
Kim urged the expulsion of People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-sook, who stirred controversy with a so-called May 18 reappraisal forum.
He said, "President Kim Young-sam set the inheritance of the spirit of the May 18 Gwangju pro-democracy movement as the most important achievement of the civilian government and made it the government's identity," adding, "The People Power Party, which has hung that photo now, is not merely opposing the May 18 spirit but seems to be fully trying to crush it by embracing Lee Jin-sook."
He added, "If former President Kim were here now, he would think, 'If I must choose what's closer, the Democratic Party fits, and the People Power Party is not it at all.'"
Kim emphasized Busan's political symbolism and also spoke of his resolve to win the next general election. He said, "Busan has traditionally been a sacred place of democracy and a traditional opposition stronghold," adding, "The Democratic Party has produced a president here three times."
He then said, "So why isn't the Democratic Party the mainstream?" adding, "In the 2018 local elections, voters let us 'sweep' the mayor, district heads, metropolitan council members, and basic council members, but we failed at that time."
Regarding the election of Jeon Jae-soo as Busan mayor in the June 3 local elections, he called it "the last chance the people of Busan have given us," and said, "With humility, but with a very bold stance, we will prepare for the Busan general election two years from now."
Kim said, "No matter what elsewhere, I will personally take command in Seoul and Busan for the elections," adding, "The beginning may look small, but in Busan—where the end will be tremendously grand—it will be our biggest victory."