Candidates Seeking Donations on Kim Eo-jun's Show Spark Controversy Ahead of Elections

It has been revealed that candidates for the local elections from the Democratic Party of Korea attempted to solicit donations during appearances on broadcaster Kim Eo-jun's YouTube channel. Fourteen out of 16 candidates for governor or mayor in the June 3 local elections from the Democratic Party appeared on the YouTube broadcast 'Kim Eo-jun's Humility is Difficult News Factory' to raise funds.

Many candidates directly asked for donations during the broadcast or used methods where Kim Eo-jun encouraged viewers to donate. Choo Mi-ae, a candidate for Gyeonggi Governor, held up a panel with her donation account number for 20 minutes on the 4th, promoting it. Kim Kyeong-su, a candidate for Gyeongnam Governor, appealed for donations, stating that while they had surpassed half of their goal, they still had a way to go.

Kim Eo-jun referred to donations as 'bullets' and encouraged contributions. An official from a Democratic Party lawmaker's office stated that on days when Kim Eo-jun 'pushes' a specific candidate on the show, it's possible to raise over 10 million won in a single day.

Lee Gwang-jae, an preliminary candidate for Hanam Gap representing the Democratic Party, declared on the May 1, 2026 broadcast that he would stake his political future on his bid for Hanam Gap. He stated his desire to compete in Hanam Gap, a difficult constituency where the then-candidate Choo Mi-ae won by only 1,000 votes.

This behavior has resurfaced during the local election season, despite internal opposition within the party.