Kim Yong Criticizes Party Leadership After Local Election Results

Kim Yong, a close aide to President Lee Jae-myung, publicly criticized Jung Cheong-rae, the leader of the Democratic Party, regarding the results of the June 3 local elections.

On June 6, Kim stated on Facebook, "The perception of the party leader that this local election was a nationwide victory for the Democratic Party, while viewing the loss in Seoul as painful, is complacent and widespread, and it diverges significantly from public sentiment."

He added, "It is not the time to celebrate the overall figure of 12 to 4. We must calmly analyze and address the results, including our failure to reclaim the crucial Seoul mayoral position and the loss of key areas we should have defended."

Kim also criticized Jung's announcement of establishing an evaluation committee and a white paper to assess the local elections, stating, "The evaluation of the election results should not be hastily hidden behind a 'white paper' or attributed to systemic issues."

He emphasized that the heavy responsibility for strategic failures and absences must be fully felt and shouldered by the party leader and the leadership, urging them to reflect thoroughly and undergo painful reforms.

Regarding the election victory of Han Dong-hoon from the People Power Party, he expressed concern, saying, "This is not a simple matter. It signifies the revival of a political prosecution that sought to eradicate the opposition and foreshadows a regression in history, concealing the manipulated crimes that have been painstakingly uncovered."

Meanwhile, Jung shared a brief post on Facebook stating, "Sometimes I take a deep breath and look at the sky," along with a song titled 'I am a passing wind.' Some interpret this as a message reflecting on internal accountability within the party.