Amid calls for pro-Jeong faction to take responsibility, Kim Min-seok: "Not concerned ... speeding up livelihood policies"

Keeping Internal Party Conflict at Arm's Length with Policy
Senior Party Figures Warn Against Prolonging the Rift

Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said he was “not particularly concerned” about calls for the pro-Jeong Cheong-rae faction to take responsibility over allegations of Shincheonji’s intervention in the party convention. As demands for a public apology continue, he appears to be keeping his distance from internal party conflict by putting livelihood policies first.

Kim made the remarks on the Democratic Party’s YouTube channel, Minti07, on Nov. 5, saying, “The issue of responsibility can be resolved naturally.” He said that even if the investigation findings had been fully disclosed, “there would have been even more and varied issues raised.” While acknowledging that “I feel very uncomfortable,” he added, “I will continue to address people’s livelihood issues on their own terms.” Kim has been highlighting policies closely tied to everyday life, including a formal proposal to the government to defer taxes on virtual asset income and a pilot direct-contracting project to reduce the number of intermediate operators at expressway rest stops.

Kim Minseok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, looks at documents with a serious expression as he attends a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on Nov. 4, 2026. Photo by Dongju Yoon, reporter.

Senior lawmakers in the party warned against prolonging the conflict. Assemblyman Kim Young-jin, a three-term lawmaker, said on MBC radio on Nov. 5 that whether to make a public apology was for Kim to decide, while former party leader Jeong Cheong-rae should “know where to draw the line” and work toward unity. “If we spend the whole year fighting over Shincheonji, only the Democratic Party’s approval rating will fall,” he said. Assemblyman Kim Young-bae said on BBS radio, “Couldn’t our leaders show magnanimity and be the bigger people?” He added, “This winter could be a crucial turning point that determines whether our Democratic Party survives.” He also said the party should be debating real estate taxes, the jeonse crisis and youth employment. However, former leader Jeong and the pro-Jeong faction’s Supreme Council members demanded a public apology and accountability. Supreme Council member Lee Seong-yoon even called for an investigation into possible violations of the Political Parties Act.

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