Speculation about PM Kim's bid for party leadership reignites… Amidst attention on his position, he dismisses it as 'focusing on state affairs'

As the August convention to elect the next leader of the Democratic Party approaches, speculation surrounding Prime Minister Kim's potential candidacy for party chairman is intensifying. The party is set to hold its national convention shortly after the June 3 local elections to select its new leader. With current party leader Jeong Cheong-rae widely expected to seek re-election, there is a growing belief that if Prime Minister Kim delays his decision to run, he could fall behind in the race. However, the Prime Minister's office has consistently stated that Kim is fully focused on his duties as Prime Minister.

Political circles are abuzz with discussions about Prime Minister Kim as a strong contender for the next party leadership. His previous remarks on a YouTube channel in January, where he expressed having a "romance" about running for the Democratic Party leadership in August, opened the door to such possibilities. Since then, his actions, including frequent visits to the Honam region and his expressed desire to reside in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, after retiring from politics, have further fueled these speculations. The Honam region is significant as it holds the largest number of Democratic Party members, with approximately 320,000 registered voters, accounting for about a quarter of the party's total membership. Securing the support of these members is considered crucial for gaining an advantage under Jeong Cheong-rae's 'one person, one vote' system.

Prime Minister Kim's recent practice of inviting lawmakers to the Prime Minister's official residence for various opinion-gathering sessions has also contributed to the rumors about his political future. Although the Prime Minister's office clarified that these gatherings include lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties and are not exclusive Democratic Party meetings, many within the ruling party interpret these moves as indicators of a potential shift in Kim's political stance. Consequently, predictions about the timing of his resignation as Prime Minister are circulating, with many anticipating he will step down shortly after the upcoming local elections to ensure fair election management, given his position as the second-highest official in the executive branch.

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romance

Some analyses suggest that Kim might need to announce his intention to run sooner rather than later to leverage his current standing and compete effectively against Jeong Cheong-rae, who is likely to benefit from the "incumbent premium." There is even speculation that he could resign as early as mid-May. This timing is also influenced by the practicalities of appointing a successor; even if Kim resigns, he may need to continue his duties until a new Prime Minister is appointed, a process that can be lengthy, as evidenced by Kim's own appointment, which took 29 days after nomination.

Recent opinion polls provide further context for the urgency of Kim's potential candidacy. A survey conducted by StiA on 1,000 adults nationwide from April 22-23 for Kyonggi Ilbo showed Kim leading Jeong Cheong-rae 34.1% to 29.7% in a hypothetical two-way race for the next Democratic Party leader. Among Democratic Party supporters, Kim garnered 42.6% compared to Jeong's 40.7%. When including undecided voters, Kim led 40.5% to 37.6%. Given this tight competition, critics argue that the constraints of his current public office as Prime Minister hinder his ability to fully engage in campaigning and boost his competitiveness.

However, the Prime Minister's office maintains that Kim is dedicated to managing state affairs, particularly in light of the complex situation in the Middle East. "He is fully committed to emergency economic response and state affairs management," a spokesperson stated. A source within the ruling party echoed this sentiment, saying, "Prime Minister Kim is currently faithfully carrying out his state administration duties."

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He is fully committed to emergency economic response and state affairs management.