Kim Tae-woo, who “caused” the by-election for the district mayor of Gangseo-gu, registers as PPP candidate

Kim Tae-woo, former district mayor of Gangseo-gu, registers for a candidacy in the by-election for Gangseo-gu district mayor at the People Power Party office in the National Assembly on September 10. Yonhap News

Kim Tae-woo, the former district mayor of Gangseo-gu who also provided the reason for a by-election for Gangseo-gu district mayor on October 11, registered as a candidate of the People Power Party (PPP) on September 10. A total of three people applied for the PPP candidacy: Kim Tae-woo; former member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council Kim Yong-seong; and Kim Jin-sun, chief of the party’s office in the Seoul Gangseo-byeong district.

In May, Kim Tae-woo was ousted from the district mayor’s position after he was sentenced to a year in prison with a two-year suspension of execution by the Supreme Court for disclosing confidential information on government affairs. In August, he was granted a special pardon on National Liberation Day by President Yoon Suk-yeol. Shortly after his pardon, Kim announced his intention to seek another bid for Gangseo-gu district mayor, and on Sunday was the first to register as a candidate. The man who was removed from the district mayor’s office by a court ruling, causing a vacancy that led to the by-election, is making an unprecedented attempt to reenter the office after a presidential pardon.

Kim argued, “The position of district mayor was taken away from me by force based on a political ruling,” and said, “There was plenty of public opinion that believed it (Supreme Court decision) was not reasonable, and I believe President Yoon made the decision after sufficiently listening to such public opinion.” He denied the Supreme Court ruling claiming it was a political decision.

When a rumor spread that the party would strategically nominate Kim Tae-woo as its candidate, Kim Jin-sun, reportedly, considered running as an independent candidate. But on Sunday, he registered just before the deadline for candidate registrations. He said, “I registered because Park Seong-min, vice secretary general of strategic planning, said he would do his utmost to ensure a fair election,” and added, “I understood his words to mean that I should not take part in the primary if they fail to set up procedures to guarantee a fair primary. I will carefully deliberate the matter.” He seems to be open to the possibility of running as an independent candidate.

Kim Jin-sun spoke about his competitor, Kim Tae-woo, and said, “I think it is appropriate for him to run for parliament not the district mayor’s office,” and added, “Even when we look at the issues he raises, he seems to be Kim Tae-woo, the politician, and not Kim Tae-woo, the local administrator.”

The People Power Party will hold a second meeting on the management of candidates for the Gangseo-gu district mayor on September 11 and discuss primary rules and details.