Actress wife helps Kim's primary winning streak

By Kim Jung-yoon

The supporting role his wife is playing has proven to be the key to the success for a surprise winner in the main opposition Democratic United Party’s regional leadership primaries. Behind the upset victory of Rep. Kim Han-gil over his rival Rep. Lee Hae-chan was his wife, Choi Myung-gil, an actress more famous and popular than her spouse.

Kim secured a surprising victory at the party’s primary in Gangwon Province, Wednesday, marking the fourth win in a row. The win came after his triumphs in Sejong-North Chungcheong Province, Jeju and South Gyeongsang Province. Initially trailing behind Lee, Kim emerged as a frontrunner with a combined 1,921 votes overtaking Lee, who has 1,837.

In Gangwon Province, Kim received 179 votes from 339 DUP members, who each cast two votes, followed by Rep. Woo Sang-ho with 166 and Lee with 82.

Pundits say Kim’s victory was possible through his actress wife’s assistance.

Choi deployed herself during the regional races, asking DUP representative members to endorse her husband. Her help was instrumental in defeating Lee.

Choi’s popularity was equally useful when Kim made a bid for a parliamentary seat in the April 11 general elections.

In a yellow jacket and wearing yellow nail polish, the party’s official color, Choi eagerly stepped up to support her husband, touring the country with Kim, texting acquaintances, putting up banners proclaiming the names of Kim and Choi.

Kim also seems to enjoy taking advantage of his famous wife’s worth as an experienced politician’s wife, introducing himself as ‘Choi’s husband’ more often than not at chairmanship campaigns.

In North Gyeongsang Province, Kim repeatedly emphasized the fact that he is the husband of Choi who graduated from an elementary school in her hometown Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, during a stump speech to voters in the targeted area.

As Choi’s competitor, Lee’s partner Kim Jung-ok is also gearing up efforts to assist her husband. Kim is referred to as the queen of housewives among political observers.

However, the two spouses greatly differ when reaching out to the electorate. While Choi takes an active role, Kim served as a critical advisor to Lee behind the scenes, drawing on her 20 years of experience as the wife of the five-term lawmaker since 1988.

Choi usually dresses in yellow, poses with three fingers raised when asked to pose for photos with delegates, to illustrate the ballot number designated to her husband, and sheds tears after winning victories. In contrast, Kim dresses in formal suits in pale colors such as grey, and nods her head with her hands folded in her lap, maintaining a certain distance when her husband shakes hands with voters.

“Kim has become accustomed to being quiet in the background as the long time wife of a politician,” said Lee’s aide explaining her tenor.

Although Kim is more experienced than Choi in politics, she seems to find Choi’s progressive campaign a strain as her activities are based on raising public awareness.

“Usually the wives of the candidates do not rush to regional primaries to select the chairman, but Choi’s active appearance on the scene has made it inevitable for other wives to also get involved,” said the aide.

Choi has been involved in raising support since the 2002 by-elections, when Kim was bidding for a parliamentary seat in the district of Guro, in Seoul. Choi appeared at polling stations and on campaign tours in Empress Myong-song costume, while starring in the then popular soap opera “Empress Myong-song”, only 15 days after she gave birth to her second son.

Yet, it remains to be seen who will win the chairmanship, even with the efforts of the two wives. As the race is tight, the primary’s eventual outcome is expected to be decided on June 9, when nearly half of the total of 12,406 delegates will cast their votes in Seoul-Gyeonggi Province.

jykim@koreatime.co.kr