Kim Yong-nam, the Democratic Party candidate for Pyeongtaek, acknowledged on May 11 that his past comments regarding the Sewol ferry disaster caused deep pain for the victims' families.
In a post on Facebook, Kim stated, "I did not fully consider how much my remarks would hurt the families of the victims. I recognize that my words left an indelible scar on their hearts." In 2015, while a member of the Saenuri Party, he faced backlash for saying that the special investigation committee on the Sewol ferry was merely wasting taxpayer money.
His rival in the Pyeongtaek race, Jo Guk, leader of the Justice Party, criticized Kim during a YTN radio interview, questioning why he has refused to apologize for his serious comments related to the Itaewon and Sewol tragedies.
Additionally, Kim reflected on his involvement with Yoon Suk Yeol's campaign during the 2022 presidential election, saying, "My past connection with Yoon, stemming from our time as prosecutors over 20 years ago, clouded my judgment. The behavior exhibited by Yoon and his associates after taking power is completely unacceptable."
He emphasized, "In light of the current insurrection situation, I have raised my voice firmly. My belief that 'this is clearly insurrection and Yoon must be punished and impeached as the insurrection leader' aligns with the views of the democratic progressive camp."
Kim acknowledged that his role as a spokesperson for Yoon's campaign will remain a significant blemish on his life, but he vowed not to deny or erase it. He expressed his commitment to learning from his mistakes and dedicating the remainder of his political career to strengthening democracy alongside the public.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.