Former President Kim Dae-jung’s third son Kim Hong-gul joined the campaign for Democratic United Party presidential candidate Moon Jae-in on Monday, vowing to help uphold his late father’s legacy.

“I come forward to help the DUP confront the forces that threaten the peace on the Korean peninsula and democracy by upholding the wishes of my late father,” Kim said at the election committee meeting.

Kim’s participation is expected to strengthen Moon’s campaign in the politically crucial Jeolla Provinces, the location of the senior Kim’s hometown and the traditional stronghold of the opposition party.

Kim, who has been residing in China for business, will be named vice chairman of Moon’s Committee for People’s Unity.

Unlike the DUP’s ardent welcome, former first lady Lee Hee-ho was said to have been initially opposed to her only biological son joining politics like his stepbrothers Hong-il and Hong-up. Lee, however, came around eventually, after she also told Moon last week that she would like to see a DUP candidate win the presidency during their encounter at an event, they said.

Kim was sentenced to a prison term in May 2002 for bribery and was released in 2005 on a pardon.

By Lee Joo-hee (jhl@heraldcorp.com)