Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
Ex-South Gyeongsang Province governor's special pardon ignites political firestorm
Kim Kyoung-soo, former governor of South Gyeongsang Province, departs for Britain at Incheon International Airport, June 14. Yonhap
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Experts say Kim Kyoung-soo may unite anti-Lee Jae-myung factions
Former South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Kim Kyoung-soo's potential return to politics is sending ripples through the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) as factional tensions rise, according to political observers, Monday.
Kim, a close ally of former President Moon Jae-in, is set to be among the beneficiaries of President Yoon Suk Yeol's special pardons to be granted this week on the occasion of National Liberation Day on Aug. 15.
Kim, a former DPK lawmaker who aided Moon during his 2012 and 2017 presidential campaigns, was sentenced to two years in jail by the Supreme Court in 2021 for illegally manipulating public opinion in favor of Moon. The then-governor of South Gyeongsang Province was removed from his post immediately after the conviction.
Kim was pardoned in late 2022 while serving a two-year prison term for conspiring with a political blogger named Kim Dong-won, better known by his internet alias Druking, to post and increase "likes" of online comments using automated software to Moon's advantage in the months leading up to his presidential victory in May 2017.
But since a pardon doesn't generally result in automatic reinstatement, Kim was banned from running for public office until December 2027. If his rights are fully restored as part of a pardon this week, however, Kim will be able to flex his political muscles and run in the 2027 presidential election.
Political watchers said Kim is considered a potential rallying point in the DPK, particularly among factions not aligned with Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the former party leader who is widely expected to be reelected as party leader later this month.
"If Lee's legal problems intensify in the coming months following his first court verdict on election law violation charges (due in October), his potential replacements will be in the spotlight," said Eom Kyeong-young, director of the Zeitgeist Institute, a private political think tank. "The top contenders are Gyeonggi Gov. Kim Dong-yeon, former Interior Minister Kim Doo-gwan, minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk and Kim Kyoung-soo."
"Among them, I think Kim Kyoung-soo is the strongest contender who can unite those aligning with Moon and late President Roh Moo-hyun."
Eom added, "However, Lee currently has undisputed control over the party, sweeping to victory in party leadership primaries. So we need to keep an eye on the DPK's national convention, set for (Sunday), to see if Lee's grip on power could be weakened."
Rep. Lee Jae-myoung, former chairman of main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, stares at his phone during a party convention to elect the next chairman at Pai Chai University in Daejeon, Sunday. Yonhap
Kim Sang-il, a political commentator, voiced skepticism over whether the former governor of South Gyeongsang Province holds a significant level of political influence but claimed that the political landscape is favorable to him.
"Kim Kyoung-soo is not a power-monger, and he certainly doesn't have a strong fandom or support base. However, he could play a significant role by uniting members of the anti-Lee factions that had difficulty finding a representative who can amplify their voice against Lee's excessive control over the party," Kim said.
"What matters is the court rulings of Lee's legal wrongdoings in the coming months. If Lee is found not guilty, I'm pretty sure he will tighten his grip on power and become the next major presidential candidate in 2027. However, if he is found guilty, his leadership will significantly weaken, allowing Kim Kyoung-soo to lay out a different course."
Lee faces a series of criminal allegations, several of which have gone to trial. These include accusations of Lee providing unlawful favors to private developers who gained substantial profits from a scandal-ridden land development project in Daejang-dong, a neighborhood of Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, during his tenure as mayor of the city and making false statements during the presidential campaign in 2021 by denying knowing Kim Moon-ki, a deceased suspect and Seongnam city employee, in violation of the election law.
Additionally, he is implicated in the transfer of illicit funds to North Korea. Lee vehemently denies all charges and the trials are currently ongoing.
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) was also divided over the potential special pardon for Kim. PPP Chairman Han Dong-hoon and seasoned lawmakers of the party who have served more than four terms expressed concerns about granting a special pardon to Kim convicted in an online influence-peddling case.
The presidential office said pardons and reinstatements are a part of the president's inherent authority, adding that no final decision has been made.
Kim's reinstatement will be reviewed by the Cabinet on Tuesday before being approved by Yoon ahead of National Liberation Day.