Democratic Party Representative Kim Min-seok addressed internal party controversy on October 10, 2026, after a notepad containing potential candidates for the upcoming Seoul mayoral race was photographed during a plenary session at the National Assembly, according to a report by Dailian and coverage by the Hankyoreh.
Notepad Contents Spark Internal Party Debate
The notepad, captured by photographers on October 9, 2026, listed several prominent political figures under the heading “Seoul Mayor Candidates.” According to the Hankyoreh, the visible names included Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-shik, former National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, and former Democratic Party leader Jung Cheong-rae. Speaking on the party’s YouTube channel “Democratic Party TV,” Kim explained that the notes simply reflected ideas and names mentioned to him by various individuals rather than any formal candidacy declarations.
Reactions from Party Leadership
The disclosure prompted immediate pushback from figures named in the notes. Former party leader Jung Cheong-rae took to social media to express his displeasure, writing on Facebook that Kim was using his notepad to target colleagues after previously leveraging a microphone during a party workshop, calling the action unpleasant. In response, Kim clarified that his own initials and name were also jotted down on the pad, noting that he had no intention of running for the position himself. He emphasized that the exercise was merely part of evaluating various images and strengths to determine an optimal candidate strategy.
Existing Primary Contenders and Legislative Actions
Kim noted that the party already possesses a solid foundational roster of potential candidates who competed in previous Seoul mayoral primaries, listing Jung Won-o, Park Ju-min, Jeon Hyun-hee, Seo Young-gyo, and Park Hong-keun. Beyond the mayoral race, Kim’s notepad also referenced opposition figures, containing the phrase “Lee Jin-sook, Han Dong-hoon OUT.” Kim defended this note by stating that those individuals should not remain in the National Assembly, pointing to ongoing controversies regarding alleged investigative material leaks. According to the Hankyoreh, the Democratic Party plans to push for disciplinary action and the suspension of qualifications for Acting Justice Minister Lee Jin-su and lawmaker Han Dong-hoon over the alleged data leaks.
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