Today's Political Briefing — 2026-04-24

Top 3 Political Issues

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joongang.co.kr

joongang.co.kr

joongang.co.kr

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1. President Lee Jae-myung’s State Visit to Vietnam and Summit

• What happened: On April 22 (local time), President Lee Jae-myung held an official summit with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party and State President of Vietnam, at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi. The summit was confirmed via the official government portal (korea.kr), focusing on deepening economic and diplomatic ties.
• Context: The Lee Jae-myung administration has pursued pragmatic diplomacy, strengthening economic cooperation with ASEAN nations. Vietnam is a key trade and investment partner, strategically vital for supply chain diversification.
• Reactions: Ruling party (Democratic Party of Korea) — Highlighting diplomatic achievements. Opposition (People Power Party) — Expressing concerns over potential neglect of domestic issues. Government/Office of the President — Viewing this as an elevation of Korea-Vietnam relations.
• Impact: The diplomatic success could influence public sentiment ahead of the June 3rd elections.

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2. June 3rd By-elections — People Power Party’s Gyeonggi Committee Struggles

• What happened: The People Power Party (PPP) has formed a separate election campaign committee for Gyeonggi Province for the upcoming June 3rd by-elections. In Seoul, there is talk of a "de-Jang Dong-hyeok" movement as they refine their nomination strategy. Reports from SBS note internal criticism over forming a committee when candidates have not yet been finalized.
• Context: The party is navigating internal conflicts over leadership and nomination strategies ahead of the June elections. The "de-Jang Dong-hyeok" movement reflects members' desires to move away from the current floor leader's system.
• Reactions: Ruling party — Using opposition divisions for political gain. Opposition — Emphasizing unity and minimizing nomination conflicts.
• Impact: The nomination outcomes will significantly alter the PPP's competitiveness, with voters in the capital region remaining the key variable.

3. Former Minjoo Research Institute Deputy Director Kim Yong Announces Candidacy

• What happened: Kim Yong, a close aide to President Lee Jae-myung, expressed his desire to run for office in Ansan-gap or Hanam-gap. Kim, who is currently out on bail while awaiting a Supreme Court verdict regarding a 5-year prison sentence for illegal political fund charges, is scheduled to appear on a YouTube broadcast on April 23.
• Context: Kim argued that if the Democratic Party turns its back on him despite the ongoing "manipulated indictment" investigation, it would be an act of self-denial for the party.
• Reactions: Democratic Party — Concerned about potential clashes between nomination criteria and the party's image; no official stance yet. Opposition — Criticizing the move as a candidacy of someone with "judicial risks."
• Impact: Whether the party nominates an individual with a guilty verdict from the second trial could trigger a major morality debate.

Key Government & Parliamentary Moves

• April 23 Plenary Session (434th Extraordinary Session): The 7th plenary session took place at 2:00 PM, alongside various committee meetings including Education and National Defense.
• High-Level Consultative Council (April 22): Prime Minister Kim announced that 85% of the 10.5 trillion won supplementary budget would be executed in the first half of the year to stabilize public livelihood and mitigate industrial damage.
• Personnel Changes: Yonhap News reported on personnel appointments within the Office for Government Policy Coordination and the Prime Minister’s Secretariat on April 22.

Party Trends

Ruling Party (Democratic Party of Korea)

• Status: Focusing on the President's diplomatic success while pushing for rapid supplementary budget execution. Internal friction is simmering over the nomination of Kim Yong and upcoming primary preparations.

Opposition (People Power Party)

• Status: Completed the formation of the Gyeonggi committee and is focused on organizing candidate pools in Seoul amid internal restlessness. They are aggressively attacking the "judicial risk" associated with Kim Yong's potential candidacy.

Media Analysis

• JoongAng Ilbo (Centrist): Detailed coverage of Kim Yong's candidacy, implicitly raising questions about the consistency of the Democratic Party's nomination standards.
• Hankyoreh (Progressive): Published a column analyzing changes in political fandoms and shifts in the political landscape since the start of the Lee Jae-myung administration.
• Kyunghyang Shinmun (Progressive/Centrist): Analyzed candidate strategy changes for the floor leader race and the challenges of the Lee Jae-myung administration's pragmatic policies.

Upcoming Schedule

• April 23: 7th Plenary Session of the 434th National Assembly / Kim Yong's YouTube appearance.
• April 22-24: Conclusion of the President's state visit to Vietnam.
• June 3: Local elections and parliamentary by-elections.
• After May: Expected sentencing for former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s rebellion trial.

Closing Summary

The President’s diplomatic wins and budget plans are boosting the government’s "livelihood" frame. However, the nomination controversy surrounding an aide facing judicial risks is threatening the Democratic Party’s moral standing, complicating the June 3rd electoral landscape.