Pro-Moon Jae-in liberal stalwart returns to main opposition party

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea on Friday approved the return of Kim Kyoung-soo, the former governor of South Gyeongsang Province, over three years after he was expelled from the party following a jail sentence in connection to online opinion rigging.

The 57-year-old liberal figure, who is considered a potential presidential candidate and to be close to former liberal President Moon Jae-in, was one of seven figures whose return to the party was approved, according to party spokesperson Rep. Kim Sung-hoi.

Ex-Gov. Kim wrote on his Facebook account that he would "dedicate himself to passing judgment on those who attempted an insurrection through (President Yoon Suk Yeol's) impeachment and to a successful transfer of power through a presidential election victory." Kim applied to return to the party on Wednesday.

Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Dong-yeon, who formerly served as finance minister in the Moon administration, welcomed the news, saying on Facebook that the former governor would "play a significant role in the transition of power."

Kim Kyoung-soo is considered a liberal figure likely to launch a presidential campaign and contend with opposition leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the chair of the party who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election.

On Jan. 29, Kim called for a "broader and more inclusive Democratic Party" in a Facebook post, urging the party to "abandon the painful labels of the one-man system" Lee has led.

Kim's two-year jail term was finalized at the Supreme Court for his involvement in manipulating online opinion in 2021, barring him from running for office until 2028. However, Kim received a presidential pardon in August last year, which restored his right to stand for election.