Kim Nam-guk to Run in Ansan Gap By-election

Democratic Party spokesperson Kim Nam-guk will run in the by-election for the Ansan Gap constituency in Gyeonggi Province. Appearing on YTN Radio's 'Kim Jun-woo's News Showdown' on the evening of April 7, Spokesperson Kim announced, "I am preparing to declare my candidacy on the 9th." He added that he is refining the content to include the concerns of Ansan citizens, local issues, public sentiment, and a balance with central politics in his campaign message.

In response to the Jo Guk Innovation Party's demand that the Democratic Party should not field a candidate for the Ansan Gap by-election because it was caused by the Democratic Party's responsibility, Spokesperson Kim countered, "There is a need to examine the causal relationship, and such a claim is not necessarily valid." He pointed out that if a candidate is not nominated due to personal issues, local voters might be forced to elect a candidate they do not want. He also argued that if the Democratic Party forfeits its nomination, the opposing party would gain an undeserved advantage, which goes against responsible politics.

When asked by the host if he and Jo Guk, leader of the Innovation Party, were mentor and student, Spokesperson Kim replied, "We are not directly mentor and student." He explained that he was not part of Jo Guk's advisory group while pursuing his doctorate at Seoul National University, and that a mentor-student relationship is established when there is an advisory group in graduate school. Nevertheless, he stated that if Jo Guk runs, he "will compete based on merit."

With Yang Moon-suk, former Ansan Gap lawmaker, supporting the candidacy of Kim Yong, deputy director of the Democratic Institute, it was noted that Kim is currently awaiting a Supreme Court ruling after being sentenced to five years in prison in the appellate trial. Regarding this, Spokesperson Kim said, "It would be best for me to refrain from commenting," but added, "The citizens of Ansan have likely already made their judgment on this matter."