Former PPP standing deputy spokesperson Shin Ju-ho says he is '100 percent' certain the exposure was intentional

Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. (Yonhap)
Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. (Yonhap)

Shin Ju-ho, a former standing deputy spokesperson for the People Power Party, claimed that Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok deliberately exposed his notebook to the press.

Speaking on MBC Radio's "News High Kick with Jo Seung-won" on Wednesday night, Shin addressed a scene from earlier that day in which TV cameras caught Kim looking at a notebook in the National Assembly's main chamber. The notebook read "Lee Jin-sook, Han Dong-hoon, out," and listed four names besides "Chung-rae" as potential Seoul mayoral candidates. "I would bet 100 percent that he exposed it on purpose," Shin said.

"There are many blank spaces in the notebook, but the fact that he specifically wrote out potential candidates for the next Seoul mayoral race and also wrote 'Lee Jin-sook, Han Dong-hoon, out' can only be seen as intentional," Shin said. "This kills two birds with one stone — whichever side takes the bait, Kim Min-seok comes out ahead."

Shin interpreted the specific wording as a signal aimed at Kim's support base. "Rep. Han Dong-hoon has been raising his profile through intense attacks on Justice Ministry nominee Kim Seung-won, and since the Democratic Party has failed to properly counter him, Kim Min-seok had no choice but to appeal to the party's hardline supporters," Shin said. "'Han Dong-hoon out' appears aimed squarely at those hardline supporters."

"Writing former party leader Jung Chung-rae's name on another part of the notebook as a Seoul mayoral candidate shows an intent to push Jung into a precarious position," he said. "It appears aimed at eliminating a political rival by cornering him."

Shin explained his reasoning: "It is not even clear whether a Seoul mayoral by-election will take place, but given how sharply approval ratings for the ruling party and the administration are falling, no Democratic Party candidate could win if one were held."

Former party leader Jung Chung-rae expressed displeasure on social media immediately after the scene was made public. "Last time you toyed with me by grabbing the microphone. Now you're hitting me with a notebook? I'm upset," Jung wrote. "You already hit me with negative attacks during the leadership race. The race is over, and you won — why do you keep attacking the one who lost? Isn't that too cruel?"

Rep. Han Dong-hoon also pushed back on social media. "Is Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok imitating Noh Sang-won's notebook with 'Han Dong-hoon OUT'?" Han wrote, directly criticizing Kim's notebook entry.


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