[Full Text] Hwang Kyo-ahn "Pushing for Constitutional Amendment to Prevent Imperial Presidency... Ask for Support to Win Big in General Election"

Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, holds a New Year's press conference on the 22nd at the Yeongdeungpo Central Party Office in Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, stated on the 22nd, "We will push for a constitutional amendment to prevent the imperial presidency through a landslide victory in the general election." He also emphasized that the core of party innovation lies in candidate nomination. Addressing President Moon Jae-in, he said, "I hope you will not be criticized for being uncommunicative," and once again proposed a one-on-one summit meeting.

On the morning of the same day, Hwang held a New Year's press conference at the central party office in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, saying, "We will definitely win the general election to judge the Moon Jae-in administration."

The following is the full text of the press conference statement.

Dear respected citizens! The Lunar New Year holiday is just two days away. I hope you have a joyful holiday with your family and relatives. At the beginning of the new year, I wanted to share good words and hope with the people. However, after watching President Moon Jae-in's press conference last week, my anger surged again.

What did the people think? At the New Year's press conference of the President of the Republic of Korea, solutions should have been presented to ensure the economy and people's livelihood that the public can live with peace of mind, to safeguard security, and to unify the people. However, it seems that the President's mind only sees Cho Kuk and North Korea.

He said he has a debt of gratitude to Cho Kuk and now asks the people to forgive him. The people were incredulous. Who exactly is Cho Kuk to us? He monopolized power as the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs and Minister of Justice, enraging the people with unfairness and injustice. He is a figure indicted as a suspect by judicial authorities and is still under additional investigation by the prosecution. He is truly the epitome of hypocrisy, whose words and actions are completely contradictory.

Not only does he side with Cho Kuk, but he also strikes unfair blows against Prosecutor Yoon Seok-youl, who is investigating Cho Kuk, the Ulsan mayoral election fraud case involving the President's friend, and the case of the cover-up of Yoon Jae-soo's inspection. He deceives the people with the sweet words of prosecutorial reform. Furthermore, he pushed through the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials Act, ignoring the opposition party. This is a regression of democracy.

For the past three years, the Moon Jae-in administration has only focused on North Korea. The concerns of our people about the North Korean nuclear threat or the destruction of the Korea-US alliance were completely ignored. The people gave power to the President to protect their lives and safety. Yet, ironically, the people are now worried about security, the Korea-US alliance, and even the President himself.

No one dislikes peace. However, fake and false peace is no longer acceptable. Has there been any progress in peace over the past three years? Where is the security of our people? What has been the result of this North Korea-first policy? There has been no progress whatsoever in denuclearizing North Korea. Fifty million people are being forced to accept the illusion of fake peace and are becoming slaves to nuclear weapons. The national consensus is divided. We have only received scolding from North Korea telling us not to meddle presumptuously. The Korea-US alliance has been seriously damaged.

Meanwhile, our economy and people's livelihood, which are our lives, have collapsed from the bottom up. Over the past three years, the Moon Jae-in administration has caused the people to shed tears of blood with unheard-of, bizarre economic policies such as income-led growth and nuclear phase-out. Why do they persist in policies that destroy the livelihood field and suppress the motivation of companies? Is the President of our country turning South Korea into an economic experiment ground for the pro-Moon faction? Who gave President Moon such power?

What kind of country is South Korea? From the ruins of war, the entire nation has achieved a miraculous history through sweat and tears. We have united our will to create great growth energy for the future. No one has the right to deny or damage this.

The world respects us, so why does the Moon Jae-in administration deny the history of achievements under the name of accumulated evils? If they try to slander Korean history, they will face greater public anger and resistance. Over the past three years, the Moon administration has destroyed everything that made our country's success possible. It has undermined constitutional values such as freedom, democracy, republic, rule of law, and fairness. It has destroyed the market economy. It has damaged the Korea-US alliance and the Korea-US-Japan trilateral cooperation. As a result, South Korea is now in a critical condition. The government has become the direct employer and the emperor over all companies.

They boasted that becoming the country's number one landlord and landowner would achieve growth and distribution. It was a grand fraud. The people are now shedding tears of blood. Yet, the Moon administration does not intend to stop here. Entering the new year, they are determined to further destroy South Korea under the slogan of definite change. If we do not firmly judge this Moon administration, South Korea will receive a definite death sentence.

Modern democratic countries operate on the principles of separation of powers, parliamentary system, and rule of law. These principles are the result of human wisdom and practice to prevent absolute power by individuals or factions. However, over the past three years, the Moon administration has split the country in half with politics of resentment and hatred, destroying all core principles of democracy. The Moon administration has lined up judges who have thrown away legal conscience to seize control of the judiciary. Through a coalition of ruling parties, it has also seized the legislature, turning the National Assembly, controlled by the coalition, into a rubber stamp for the President's orders. The moment the judiciary and legislature become servants of the Blue House, democracy in this country will come to an end.

Dear citizens! The time for the general election in April is approaching. Our great people must now make a decision. Will you continue to allow the Moon administration's reckless behavior and let the country perish, or will you judge the Moon administration and reclaim a free and prosperous South Korea? The final decision rests with you.

Dear citizens, I feel endless remorse for having contributed to the reckless behavior of the Moon administration. I apologize once again to the people. But we cannot sit idly by while free South Korea is on the brink of death. We cannot just watch despair continue. The Liberty Korea Party pledges to the people with a new determination.

First, we will revive the collapsing livelihood economy. The Liberty Korea Party is a party with experience in reviving the livelihood economy. We will definitely restore the livelihood economy. We have already prepared alternative economic policies. If implemented as is, our economy can be revived. We have conveyed these alternatives to the President. If the direction is corrected to save the collapsing South Korean economy, we will actively cooperate. The economy must be revived.

Second, to judge the Moon administration, we will definitely win the general election. This time, through an overwhelming victory, we will stop the administration's reckless behavior. Victory in the general election is the starting point for a major shift in security, economy, and politics. Through a comprehensive national policy shift, we will normalize the country. We will restore a free and prosperous South Korea. We will reverse the wrongs. We will first repeal the election law and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials Act, which were rammed through last December by the ruling coalition's parliamentary violence. We will also restore the precious constitutional values of freedom, justice, fairness, and equality destroyed by the Moon administration. We will correct these falsehoods that exist only in words. Normalizing national governance and values is the process of regaining the country's dreams and hopes. We will definitely restore them.

Third, we will achieve bold innovation. The core is candidate nomination, and the core of nomination is innovation. We will gladly accept the people's whip until they are satisfied and change everything. Our party has prepared the most innovative candidate nomination criteria in the history of free-right-wing parties. We will replace up to 50% of incumbent lawmakers and nominate 30% young politicians in their 20s to 40s to create a young conservative party, a young free-right-wing party. We will build a completely new party. We will create a ruling party where the weight of seats is as important as the weight of the country, with a sense of responsibility that respects past generations while respecting future generations, progressive conservatism, and pragmatism that implements constitutional values in the field of people's livelihood.

To complete nomination innovation, those in leadership positions, including myself, must make sacrifices. To win the nomination, we must concentrate all party power comprehensively and exert it systematically. I will not hesitate to take on any role or responsibility. The nomination management committee chairman will have full authority and responsibility and will carry out a victorious nomination that follows the people's will.

Fourth, we will definitely achieve grand unity of all citizens opposing the Moon administration. Therefore, at the beginning of January, we launched the people's mandate to start the unity train of the free democratic forces. The Innovation Unity Committee has now been launched to unite the people's will to restore free South Korea. The free democratic camp has long been stuck in a deep quagmire of tremendous historical mistakes after causing a suspension of the constitutional order. They have come to a path of division, blaming each other. The Moon administration has exploited this situation to ruthlessly stab the country with destructive ideological knives.

In the face of a collapsing country, conservatives must no longer be divided. Unity is our duty. Acts of opposition or delay only help the Moon dictatorship. Losing today means no tomorrow for us. Through reflection, forgiveness, and reconciliation, we must open our own tomorrow and the country's and people's tomorrow. I will not hesitate to do anything or take any role for the grand unity of the free democratic camp.

Fifth, based on a landslide victory in the general election, we will push for a constitutional amendment that can fundamentally prevent the imperial presidency. This is to create a legal foundation for South Korea to achieve sustainable development without being hindered by politics. Citizens, it has already been a year since I entered politics last January after 30 years of public service. Since being elected leader of the Liberty Korea Party, I have experienced a turbulent year. I entered politics to save the country that was on the edge of a cliff. Though insufficient, I have fought with the sole intention of saving the people. As the opposition leader, I have not hesitated to take extreme actions such as shaving my head, fasting, and indefinite sit-ins.

However, I was insufficient in fully gaining the people's hearts. I could not stop the Moon administration's reckless behavior. But now, the Liberty Korea Party and I stand before a new path. We face greater challenges. We will face any trial without avoidance and overcome it boldly. Together with the people, we will open a better country and a better future.

I strongly urge President Moon Jae-in to become the President of the Republic of Korea entrusted by the people under the Constitution. Do not destroy the constitutional order any longer. Do not divide our country. Break away from Cho Kuk and specific factions. The President has only two years left. Time is running out. I strongly demand that President Moon become the President of all of us. Please become the President of South Korea.

Regarding the April 15 general election, I solemnly demand strict election neutrality from the President. Furthermore, I propose the formation of a neutral election cabinet. The people will no longer forgive key elections. Many cases of key elections are already emerging. The Blue House and government are already trying to field over 100 candidates as Democratic Party candidates. The Blue House and cabinet are becoming election organizations.

The people say, "Then who will raise the cattle?" What does the President think about the reality where public servants are obsessed only with winning the general election? To resolve the current national confusion, stabilize public sentiment, and reassure the people, I propose a one-on-one summit meeting with the President. Since I took office as the leader of the main opposition party, I have no memory of meeting the President alone to discuss state affairs. I have requested several times but received no response. I strongly urge the President not to be criticized as an uncommunicative President who ignores the people by refusing to meet the opposition leader.

Dear beloved and respected citizens. Now, we must firmly block the tyranny of the Moon administration and reclaim free South Korea. We are prepared. But we need to walk with the people. I ask the people to give us an overwhelming majority in the April general election. Only then can we fulfill our promise to revive South Korea. I earnestly appeal to create a year of change and hope in 2020 with the Liberty Korea Party through a definite judgment on the Moon administration.

Dear citizens! Have a good Lunar New Year holiday, and though times are difficult, I wish you a very happy new year. Thank you.