Kim Min-seok says citizens will judge People Power Party's role in Gangneung by-election

Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok said Tuesday that citizens would render their own verdict on who bears responsibility for the upcoming Gangneung by-election, in remarks widely seen as pinning blame on the People Power Party.

Speaking to reporters after touring the 2026 Gangneung Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress at the Gangneung Speed Skating Oval, Kim said he believed voters who had elected the Gangneung mayor would ask themselves "whether leadership needs to change for Gangneung's development."

The by-election in Gangneung is scheduled for April 7 next year after former People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Sung-dong had his prison sentence confirmed on charges of illegally receiving 100 million won ($75,100) in political funds.

During the party leadership convention on Aug. 17, Kim said he was confident of winning the Gangneung by-election and pledged to "ask party members for a renewed mandate based on the result."

On his strategy for winning over Gangneung voters, Kim said he would focus less on electoral tactics and more on engaging with residents directly — working through the city's key projects, including autonomous driving technology, one by one. "I will continue to visit and listen to what citizens have to say," he said.

Earlier Tuesday, Kim toured exhibition booths at the ITS congress, where he examined next-generation mobility technologies including remotely operated vehicles and parking robots. He also test-rode a driverless autonomous vehicle with no steering wheel.

Kim praised the decision to hold the ITS World Congress in Gangneung, saying it created "a venue where cutting-edge unmanned autonomous driving technologies from around the world can be gathered and discussed here in Korea." He added that it was meaningful for Gangneung to continue leading and symbolizing advances in autonomous driving technology.

Tuesday's visit was Kim's second trip to Gangneung since taking office as party leader. Separately, on Sept. 14, he held a field supreme council meeting and a Gangwon Province budget policy conference in Chuncheon, near Gangneung.