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Korea Herald
13-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Kim Kyoung-soo enters race championing Roh's Sejong-centered vision
Kim Kyoung-soo, former governor of South Gyeongsang Province, announced his presidential bid on Sunday in Sejong — the de facto administrative capital of South Korea — in a symbolic gesture, becoming the fourth contender from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. Kim stressed the need for political and institutional reforms to prevent the recurrence of presidential overreach, citing disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 last year, which led to his removal by the Constitutional Court in early April. 'To ensure that tragic events like a martial law attempt never happen again, we must reform our political system to enable power-sharing, oversight and checks,' Kim said during his campaign launch event at Sejong City Hall in Sejong, south of Seoul, proposing a constitutional revision to that end. 'During the first 400 days of my administration, through public deliberation and debate, we will make constitutional reform a reality in time for the next local elections (in 2026),' he added. Kim's choice of Sejong as the location for his campaign launch also held symbolic weight. Sejong was envisioned by former President Roh Moo-hyun, Kim's political mentor, as a new administrative capital to ease the overconcentration of power, infrastructure and population in Seoul and to promote balanced national development. Since its establishment in 2012, many government ministries and agencies have relocated there — with a few exceptions, including the presidential office, which remains in Seoul. Building on this legacy, Kim unveiled a broader decentralization initiative aimed at reviving national growth and empowering regions beyond the capital. 'Instead of the Seoul-centered system, we must create five mega cities across the country,' Kim said. 'Through administrative reorganization, we will establish autonomous governments in each mega city to lead the nation's development.' He pledged to allocate over 30 trillion won ($21 billion) annually to support their financial autonomy. Kim also vowed to fully relocate the presidential office from Seoul to Sejong. 'We can no longer use Yongsan, a symbol of insurrection, as the presidential office,' he said. Kim is widely considered a political heir to former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in. He served as Roh's final presidential secretary and later played a central role in Moon's administration as a chief speechwriter and strategist during the 2017 presidential campaign. Kim was elected governor of South Gyeongsang Province in 2018, but his political ascent was interrupted by legal troubles. In 2021, Kim was sentenced to two years in prison for colluding with a power blogger known as 'Druking' to manipulate online opinion in favor of Moon's 2017 campaign — a conviction that led to the loss of his governorship and Democratic Party membership. Kim was granted a presidential pardon in December 2022 under the Yoon administration, alongside former President Lee Myung-bak. However, his eligibility to run for office was not restored until August 2024, following that year's general elections in April. He rejoined the Democratic Party in February this year. However, Kim currently trails far behind Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the front-runner of the Democratic Party of Korea. According to a Media Research poll conducted Tuesday and Wednesday on 1,000 respondents, Lee led with 87.9 percent support among Democratic Party supporters, followed by Kim Dong-yeon, governor of Gyeonggi Province, with 2.5 percent and Kim Kyoung-soo with 2.4 percent. Lee Jae-myung announced his candidacy on Thursday, followed by Kim Dong-yeon and Kim Doo-kwan, a former Democratic Party lawmaker. The latter two, along with Kim Kyoung-soo, are widely regarded as key figures in the party's anti-Lee faction.
Korea Herald
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Kim Kyoung-soo enters race with Roh's Sejong-centered vision
Kim Kyoung-soo, former governor of South Gyeongsang Province, announced his presidential bid on Sunday in Sejong — the de facto administrative capital of South Korea — in a symbolic gesture, becoming the fourth contender from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. Kim stressed the need for political and institutional reforms to prevent the recurrence of presidential overreach, citing disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 last year, which led to his removal by the Constitutional Court in early April. 'To ensure that tragic events like a martial law attempt never happen again, we must reform our political system to enable power-sharing, oversight and checks,' Kim said during his campaign launch event at Sejong City Hall in Sejong, south of Seoul, proposing a constitutional revision to that end. 'During the first 400 days of my administration, through public deliberation and debate, we will make constitutional reform a reality in time for the next local elections (in 2026),' he added. Kim's choice of Sejong as the location for his campaign launch also held symbolic weight. Sejong was envisioned by former President Roh Moo-hyun, Kim's political mentor, as a new administrative capital to ease the overconcentration of power, infrastructure and population in Seoul and to promote balanced national development. Since its establishment in 2012, many government ministries and agencies have relocated there — with a few exceptions, including the presidential office, which remains in Seoul. Building on this legacy, Kim unveiled a broader decentralization initiative aimed at reviving national growth and empowering regions beyond the capital. 'Instead of the Seoul-centered system, we must create five mega cities across the country,' Kim said. 'Through administrative reorganization, we will establish autonomous governments in each mega city to lead the nation's development.' He pledged to allocate over 30 trillion won annually to support their financial autonomy. Kim also vowed to fully relocate the presidential office from Seoul to Sejong. 'We can no longer use Yongsan, a symbol of insurrection, as the presidential office,' he said. Kim is considered a political heir to former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in. He served as Roh's final presidential secretary and later played a central role in Moon's administration as a chief speechwriter and strategist during the 2017 presidential campaign. Kim was elected governor of South Gyeongsang Province in 2018, but his political ascent was interrupted by legal troubles. In 2021, Kim was sentenced to two years in prison for colluding with a power blogger known as 'Druking' to manipulate online opinion in favor of Moon's 2017 campaign — a conviction that led to the loss of his governorship and Democratic Party membership. Kim was granted a presidential pardon in December 2022 under the Yoon administration, alongside former President Lee Myung-bak. However, his eligibility to run for office was not restored until August 2024, following that year's general elections in April. He rejoined the Democratic Party in February this year. However, Kim currently trails other Democratic Party candidates in public support. According to a Media Research poll conducted Tuesday and Wednesday on 1,000 respondents, Lee Jae-myung led with 87.9 percent support among Democratic Party voters, followed by Kim Dong-yeon with 2.5 percent and Kim Kyoung-soo with 2.4 percent. Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the party's leading presidential hopeful, announced his candidacy on Thursday, followed by Kim Dong-yeon, governor of Gyeonggi Province, and Kim Doo-kwan, a former Democratic Party lawmaker. The latter two, along with Kim Kyoung-soo, are widely regarded as key figures in the party's anti-Lee faction. flylikekite@
Korea Herald
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Kim Kyoung-soo enters race with Roh's Sejong-centered vision
Kim Kyoung-soo, former governor of South Gyeongsang Province, announced his presidential bid on Sunday in Sejong -- the de facto administrative capital of South Korea -- in a symbolic gesture, becoming the fourth contender from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. Kim stressed the need for political and institutional reforms to prevent the recurrence of presidential overreach, citing disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 last year, which led to his removal by the Constitutional Court in early April. 'To ensure that tragic events like a martial law attempt never happen again, we must reform our political system to enable power-sharing, oversight and checks,' Kim said during his campaign launch event at Sejong City Hall in Sejong, south of Seoul, proposing a constitutional revision to that end. 'During the first 400 days of my administration, through public deliberation and debate, we will make constitutional reform a reality in time for the next local elections (in 2026),' he added. Kim's choice of Sejong as the location for his campaign launch also held symbolic weight. Sejong was envisioned by former President Roh Moo-hyun, Kim's political mentor, as a new administrative capital to ease the overconcentration of power, infrastructure and population in Seoul and to promote balanced national development. Since its establishment in 2012, many government ministries and agencies have relocated there — with a few exceptions, including the presidential office, which remains in Seoul. Building on this legacy, Kim unveiled a broader decentralization initiative aimed at reviving national growth and empowering regions beyond the capital. 'Instead of the Seoul-centered system, we must create five mega cities across the country,' Kim said. 'Through administrative reorganization, we will establish autonomous governments in each mega city to lead the nation's development.' He pledged to allocate over 30 trillion won annually to support their financial autonomy. Kim also vowed to fully relocate the presidential office from Seoul to Sejong. 'We can no longer use Yongsan, a symbol of insurrection, as the presidential office,' he said. Kim is considered a political heir to former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in. He served as Roh's final presidential secretary and later played a central role in Moon's administration as a chief speechwriter and strategist during the 2017 presidential campaign. Kim was elected governor of South Gyeongsang Province in 2018, but his political ascent was interrupted by legal troubles. In 2021, Kim was sentenced to two years in prison for colluding with a power blogger known as 'Druking' to manipulate online opinion in favor of Moon's 2017 campaign — a conviction that led to the loss of his governorship and Democratic Party membership. Kim was granted a presidential pardon in December 2022 under the Yoon administration, alongside former President Lee Myung-bak. However, his eligibility to run for office was not restored until August 2024, following that year's general elections in April. He rejoined the Democratic Party in February this year. However, Kim currently trails other Democratic Party candidates in public support. According to a Media Research poll conducted Tuesday and Wednesday on 1,000 respondents, Lee Jae-myung led with 87.9 percent support among Democratic Party voters, followed by Kim Dong-yeon with 2.5 percent and Kim Kyoung-soo with 2.4 percent. Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the party's leading presidential hopeful, announced his candidacy on Thursday, followed by Kim Dong-yeon, governor of Gyeonggi Province, and Kim Doo-kwan, a former Democratic Party lawmaker. The latter two, along with Kim Kyoung-soo, are widely regarded as key figures in the party's anti-Lee faction.
Korea Herald
18-03-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Ruling party proposes axing taxes for second homes outside Seoul
Tax breaks floated to foster growth in non-Seoul areas in seemingly election-conscious announcement The ruling People Power Party on Tuesday announced plans to exempt owners of second or additional homes outside Seoul from taxes. Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, the People Power Party's floor leader, said at a meeting of the party leadership that lifting taxes for buyers of homes in non-capital regions could be a way of fostering an even growth across Korea, whose population is heavily concentrated in Seoul. "Some bold policy changes are necessary to even out the trend of Seoul-centered growth while the rest of the country is quickly losing population," Kweon said. According to the ruling party's plans, non-first-time buyers of homes outside Seoul would not be subject to the increase in taxes faced by second-home owners in the capital. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the capital city's population is estimated at 9.6 million as of 2024. That means about a fifth of Korea's 51.7 million are living in Seoul. The People Power Party's policy proposal on Tuesday is seen as an election-conscious move, with the Constitutional Court due to give its verdict on suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment shortly. Boosting growth in areas outside Seoul had been a central issue in the policy agendas of both the People Power Party and rival Democratic Party of Korea in the 2024 general election. In a gathering of the People Power Party's members on Monday, Rep. Kwon Young-se, the party's chair, said his party "has to stay united to claim victory in whatever comes our way" alluding to a possible presidential election.
