The controversy surrounding Kim Min-seok's notebook listing potential candidates for the Seoul mayoral election has ignited a political dispute between the ruling Democratic Party and the opposition People Power Party. The Democratic Party has labeled the criticism as "groundless attacks," while the People Power Party has accused them of "judicial intimidation."
On September 12, Democratic Party spokesperson Lee Yong-woo criticized the People Power Party, stating, "They are making a fuss over a single line in Kim's notes," and urged them to stop distorting simple political forecasts into judicial intimidation. He also called on them to reflect on their own actions.
Lee added, "It is absurd to think about what they have done. Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon received a request from People Power Party member Na Kyung-won to drop charges related to the fast-track incident while he was serving as Minister of Justice." He emphasized that Na was involved in a case she was being tried for and noted that she had repeatedly claimed on far-right YouTube broadcasts that the charges could be dropped depending on political circumstances.
Lee questioned why the People Power Party, which is so strict about a single memo, is so lenient regarding its own members. He stated, "The public is watching their blatant double standards, which only apply to their own side. If they want to talk about fairness and judicial processes, they should apply the same standards to their own people."
Earlier, People Power Party spokesperson Park Seong-hoon criticized Kim's notebook, claiming it preemptively judged the outcome of ongoing trials and pressured the judiciary while speculating on candidates for the upcoming by-election. This comes as Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon faces a first-instance ruling that could invalidate his election due to alleged violations of political funding laws.
Park stated, "The behavior of calculating power-sharing is an infringement on judicial independence and constitutes political intimidation against the judiciary. To arbitrarily predict outcomes before a ruling undermines the foundations of the rule of law and is an unconstitutional notion." He also urged Kim to focus on the lives of suffering citizens rather than on a hastily drawn-up election plan.
Meanwhile, Kim's notebook listing potential candidates for the Seoul mayoral election was made public on September 9. In response, Kim appeared on the Democratic Party's official YouTube channel the following day, stating, "I did not discuss this with the individuals mentioned in the notes, nor did I seek their opinions. It was just my personal thoughts, and I apologize for being photographed with it." However, he asserted, "I believe there is a 99.99% chance of a by-election for the Seoul mayor. I have responsibilities for both the general election and the by-election, so it is natural for me to prepare for it."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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