Former Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Du-kwan will officially announce his candidacy for the 21st presidential election on the 7th. This is the first declaration of candidacy from the progressive camp following the Constitutional Court's ruling on the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. During last year's party convention, Kim competed with Lee for the party leadership position. He also criticized various tax cut policies suggested by Lee, stating that they lacked measures to secure funding.
Kim's camp stated in a notice on the 5th that he will hold a press conference announcing his candidacy at 11 a.m. on the 7th at the Democratic Party's headquarters in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. Prior to this, on the same day at 9 a.m., he plans to visit the National Cemetery in Dongjak, Seoul, to pay respects at the grave of former President Kim Dae-jung and lay flowers.
At this event, Kim is expected to propose a constitutional amendment for a 'decentralized power structure' and the introduction of an open primary suggested by the Justice Party. An open primary allows non-party members to vote in the party's primary process. Currently, the Democratic Party has adopted a 'people's participation primary' reflecting 50% party members and 50% general citizens.
Kim, who hails from the village leader of Namhae County, served as the Namhae County Mayor, Minister of Interior, and Gyeongnam Governor before entering the National Assembly as a member of the ruling party in Gimpo Gap during the 20th National Assembly. In the 21st National Assembly election, he successfully moved his constituency to Yangsan, Gyeongnam, winning reelection, but he lost to Kim Tae-ho, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, in the 22nd National Assembly election. This is Kim's third bid for the presidency following the 2012 and 2021 elections.
The presidential race within the Democratic Party has also gained momentum. Lee Jae-myung, a key candidate from the opposition bloc, plans to resign from the party leadership and activate his primary campaign soon. Currently, the progressive camp's list of candidates includes Lee, Kim Du-kwan, Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon, former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, and former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum.