The Democratic Party said Monday that opinions inside the party are divided as more members call for nominating Kim Yong, a former deputy head of the party-affiliated Democracy Research Institute, and urged the public to trust the party’s Strategic Nominations Committee.
Senior spokesperson Kang Jun-hyeon told reporters at the National Assembly that “it is true there are various opinions within the party,” but said the committee should be allowed to make its decision.
Kang also addressed comments by Secretary-General Jo Seung-rae, who had said there were many negative views within the party about nominating Kim.
Kang said Jo’s remark “was not the party’s official stance,” calling it a reference to internal sentiment. “Please understand it only as meaning there are various opinions within the party,” he said.
Kang said the party has continued efforts to recruit Ha Jung-woo, the presidential office’s senior secretary for artificial intelligence, who is widely seen as a likely candidate in Busan’s Buk-gu Gap district.
Kang said it was not confirmed whether Jo and the committee had direct contact with Ha, but added that “there was a process in which the party earnestly requested” that Ha run.
“With not much time left until the by-election, the most important thing is Ha’s firm determination,” Kang said.
Kang said the Strategic Nominations Committee would meet as needed to handle strategic nominations for the by-elections.
He noted that the deadline for public officials seeking to run to resign is May 4, adding that the party’s plan is to wrap up strategic nominations by early May. The committee, he said, is moving “urgently and swiftly.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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