"Is the Key Figure in the Druking Manipulation the Minister Candidate? Anger Turns to Contempt"

With Kim Kyung-soo, former governor of South Gyeongsang Province, being strongly considered as the candidate for Minister of the Interior and Safety in the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, has stepped up to challenge the "presidential appointment power."

Ahn directly asked, "Is this what President Lee Jae-myung calls the 'real Republic of Korea'?" as he criticized the speculation surrounding Kim’s appointment.

Concerns have been raised about whether it is appropriate for a candidate who failed to qualify in the primary, let alone the presidential election, to control a president chosen by the public.

On the 8th, Ahn stated on his Facebook page, "I feel not only anger but also a deep sense of contempt upon seeing reports that Kim Kyung-soo, who has been sentenced to prison as a key figure in the Druking manipulation incident, is a strong candidate for Minister of the Interior and Safety."

He added, "During the 2017 presidential election, my approval ratings fell due to the Druking incident, and while I raised issues during the debates, I could not stop the massive public opinion fraud. I sense a crisis where the fundamentals of democracy are shaken by the reality that such a person could take on a pivotal role in national governance."

"Is manipulation of public opinion being justified as a legitimate means of governance?"

Regarding the symbolic nature of Kim's potential appointment, Ahn warned that it sends a "wrong message that manipulation of public opinion and incitement can be legitimate means of governing." He indicated that this represents a direct threat to the liberal democratic system.

Kim Kyung-soo was sentenced to prison for colluding with Kim Dong-won, known as Druking, to manipulate public opinion through online comments during the 2017 presidential election. He was released on parole at the end of 2023 after serving his sentence.

Recently, there has been speculation about Kim’s appointment as Minister of the Interior and Safety, as he has drawn attention as a close aide to President Lee Jae-myung.

"How can a regressive appointment strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance?"

Ahn also criticized the overall appointments of the Lee Jae-myung administration, not just those of Kim Kyung-soo. He questioned, "How can the government strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance and lead the future of the Republic of Korea with key figures like Kim Min-seok, the prime minister candidate, and Kang Hoon-sik, the chief of staff, who are responsible for past policy failures or ignorant of today’s international situation?"

He concluded, "Appointments are not just placements; they are a message to the public, a policy, and a reflection of the philosophy of the administration. The appointments of the Lee Jae-myung government are heading toward division instead of integration, regression instead of renewal. If this is the true face of the Republic of Korea, the public will never accept it."

Meanwhile, during the 2017 presidential election campaign, Ahn faced immense criticism, particularly from "mom cafes," after making comments about "refraining from establishing large single-structure kindergartens" amid rising approval ratings.

In subsequent TV debates, Ahn’s approval ratings plummeted as he made remarks such as "Am I Lee Myung-bak's avatar?" and "Am I a Choi Soon-sil?" as well as "Please stop bothering me."

Image source: Kim Kyung-soo, former governor of South Gyeongsang Province / News1, Channel A News, MBC