During a recent debate for the leadership of the Democratic Party, candidates Kim Young-ho and Han Min-soo engaged in a heated exchange regarding a controversial remark made by fellow candidate Choi Min-hee, who referred to a 'bat.'
On August 4, Kim appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' and expressed his outrage over Choi's comment, stating, "What angered me more was that if I had not heard the bat remark, there would have been no need for an apology, which is an Ilbe-style expression." He further criticized Choi, suggesting that the use of such derogatory language reflects a culture of contempt ingrained in her behavior.
In contrast, Han, who is aligned with Choi's faction, defended her by saying, "Choi has apologized, and Kim has accepted it, so the matter is settled." He emphasized their shared history, stating, "We are comrades who overcame the 12.3 insurrection and brought down the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. It seems that Choi's comment was more of a private thought. She has apologized, and Kim accepted it." Han urged unity among party members, saying, "We are the comrades who established the Lee Jae-myung government. Regardless of the leadership formed after the convention, we must move forward together. I hope other candidates share this sentiment."
The debate also highlighted ongoing tensions between factions within the party. Han pointed out that lawmakers accompanying candidate Kim Min-seok should not claim to be part of the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction, while Kim asserted that he recognizes the anti-Choi faction and intends to prevent the re-election of pro-Choi members.
When asked about claims that the current leadership race is divided along pro-Lee and pro-Choi lines, Han responded that those campaigning alongside Kim are identifying themselves as pro-Lee, questioning, "Is it appropriate to use the president's name to claim allegiance to the pro-Lee faction?"
Kim warned that if he were to become party leader and pro-Choi candidates like Han, Choi, and Lee Sung-yoon were elected to the Supreme Council, they would likely obstruct his initiatives at every turn, reiterating his commitment to preventing the re-election of pro-Choi members.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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