Lee ally Kim Yong enters Democratic Party leadership race, vows to break 'old Yeouido ways'

Kim Yong, former vice president of the Democratic Research Institute and a close ally of President Lee Jae Myung, declared his candidacy Wednesday for a Supreme Council seat at the Democratic Party of Korea's Aug. 17 national convention, vowing to "break the old Yeouido ways and lead a clear-cut reform of the Democratic Party."

Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly press center that day, Kim said, "I, Kim Yong — an ordinary party member — will become the strongest and warmest bridge connecting the party, the government and our members."

Kim said South Korea is at "a critical juncture" in which it must complete three major projects without setback and propel the country into the ranks of the world's top three AI powers. He added, however, that the ruling Democratic Party has shown its limits in playing an active and efficient role during what should be a golden window for driving the country's rapid development.

"We must transform the energy of conflict into the power of unity and progress, and chart the irreversible path of transformation the Democratic Party must take," he said. He added that this was why he — having declared he would serve in the background during the recent by-election — was returning to the stage Wednesday as an ordinary party member.

Kim put forward four campaign pledges: a direct election system for proportional-representation lawmakers, a member evaluation process for candidate nominations, a ban on running in the same constituency for more than three consecutive terms, and the creation of a party audit body with its head chosen by direct member vote.

Kim described himself as "the person who most deeply shares the governing philosophy of the Lee Jae Myung administration, and at the same time someone who has experienced firsthand, from the lowest rung, the dedication and solidarity of party members." He pledged to "make the success of the Lee Jae Myung administration the paramount mission and be a person for all party members, from start to finish."

Asked about former party leader Jung Chung-rae's bid to retain the leadership post, Kim said the party's approval rating has been falling since it failed to win public support in the local elections, and that Jung, along with the party leadership as a whole, "cannot avoid responsibility." He said the convention must be one in which the Democratic Party "humbly reflects and carries out genuine renewal."

On concerns about his own legal risk, Kim said his indictment "was false from beginning to end — everything has been brought to light." He added, however, that he would not fight the election on the basis of the past. "I will move forward with confidence, trusting in our party members," he said.

Earlier, Reps. Kim Young-ho (three-term), Park Seon-won and Lee Geon-tae (both first-term), former Korea Center for Military Human Rights head Kim Hyeong-nam, and policy committee vice chairman Jeong Min-cheol had also announced their intention to run for Supreme Council seats.