[Exclusive] Kim Minseok Returns to Assembly, 'DJ's Grandson' Joins Campaign... Authenticity Race Heats Up (Comprehensive)

Move-In to Campaign Office Begins Immediately After Prime Minister's Resignation

Steps Toward the Party Leadership Race Underway

Key Figures Joining: Taeyoung Yeom, Myungseon Hwang, Jonggun Yoon

Taeseon Kim, Former Chief of Staff for

On July 1, Kim Minseok, the Prime Minister who led the first cabinet of the Lee Jaemyung administration, returned to the National Assembly. Meanwhile, the outlines of key figures joining his campaign for the party leadership election, such as Assemblymen Yeom Taeyoung, Hwang Myungseon, and Yoon Jonggun, are also emerging. The eldest grandson of the late former President Kim Daejung will also join Kim Minseok's campaign.

According to coverage by The Asia Business Daily on July 1, Kim's party leadership campaign has set up its office in a location in Yeouido, Seoul, and has begun preparations for the leadership race. Multiple campaign officials stated that the move-in to the campaign office began in earnest on this day, immediately after Kim stepped down as Prime Minister. Some teams—including those for the situation room, strategy, and scheduling—were already in operation in anticipation of Kim’s return to the National Assembly.

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Jung Won Ahn = Kim Minseok, the Prime Minister, is seen greeting employees as he leaves the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul, after completing his farewell ceremony on July 1, 2026. Photo by Jeong Won Ahn

The campaign’s chief of the situation room will be Assemblyman Yeom Taeyoung, a three-term former mayor of Suwon. It has been confirmed that many assembly members who previously worked closely with President Lee Jaemyung have joined, with Yeom taking the lead. Hwang Myungseon, who served as deputy secretary-general for organization under Lee Jaemyung’s leadership, is expected to oversee organization for Kim’s campaign. Assemblyman Yoon Jonggun, who served as chief political secretary when Lee was the governor of Gyeonggi Province, will also join. Yoon previously served as head of the message team during Lee Jaemyung’s 20th presidential campaign.

Assemblyman Kim Taeseon, who was chief aide during Lee Jaemyung’s presidential campaign for the 21st election, is expected to serve as chief of staff. Assemblyman Kim Wooyoung, who served as chief political coordinator under Lee’s leadership, is also likely to play a role. Former Blue House spokesperson Jeon Eunsu is expected to serve as the campaign’s spokesperson and may also run for the supreme council.

It has also been confirmed that Kim Jongdae, the eldest grandson of the late former President Kim Daejung, will join the campaign of former Prime Minister Kim Minseok. Kim Jongdae has been working in the Office of Political Cooperation at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat since the end of April, but will resign in line with Kim Minseok’s departure and move to the campaign.

Meanwhile, Jeong Cheongrae, a former party leader, and Assemblyman Song Younggil, both mentioned as contenders for the party leadership, are expected to run their campaigns without separate offices. During the previous party convention, Jeong Cheongrae also promoted the “three no’s clean election campaign,” which means not going negative, not spending money on the campaign, and not establishing a separate campaign office.

An official from Song Younggil’s side also stated that, since the ratio of delegate votes to rights party member votes has been made equal at 1:1, the campaign will be run in a streamlined manner. “This time, media interviews and other forms of media engagement will likely be more important in the election,” the official said.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.