Kim Byung-joon: "Park's letter is not prison politics... It means don't use my name for political gain"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Former Emergency Committee Chairman of the Liberty Korea Party, Kim Byung-joon, drew a line on the criticism from some quarters calling former President Park Geun-hye's prison letter "prison politics" on the 4th, stating, "It is not prison politics." Rather, he interpreted it as sending a message to conservative forces who have founded a new party, telling them "not to drag me into it."

Former Emergency Committee Chairman Kim appeared on YTN Radio's 'No Young-hee's Start of a New Morning' on the 5th and said, "(The prison letter) is seen as expressing concern about the recent division in the opposition, especially those using President Park Geun-hye's name," adding this.

He said, "Some interpret this message very actively as a call for unity, but since there is no instruction like 'do this' or 'do that' directed at the United Future Party, I interpret it passively," adding, "To those waving the Taegeukgi flag and forming parties under former President Park's name, the message is 'Do not drag me into politics anymore, and please do not cause further division in the opposition by involving me.'"

Regarding the Liberty Republican Party's demand to halt the United Future Party's candidate nominations following former President Park's prison letter announcement, he said, "The candidate screening is already complete, and the announcement is pending, so practically, it is not easy to divide positions or the like," and added, "I don't know how the nomination committee will handle the issue, but it is not something I should comment on."

He expressed regret over the recent noise surrounding former Liberty Korea Party leader Hong Joon-pyo's candidacy issue. He said, "Both the nomination committee and former leader Hong Joon-pyo are getting hurt as the election approaches," adding, "On one hand, there is sympathy for Hong Joon-pyo, but on the other hand, there are those who emphasize the nomination committee's principles. I hope they seriously sit down and talk to each other even today."

When asked if excluding Yoon Sang-hyun, Min Kyung-wook, and Kim Soon-rye from nominations was aimed at the pro-Park faction, he said, "I don't think it was based on that faction, but rather on various performances and statements made so far," adding, "The nomination committee members, centered around Chairman Kim Hyung-o, are not wielding the knife against any particular faction." Regarding the Daegu-Gyeongbuk nominations, he said, "Whether cut-off or replacement, many figures will change, and I expect that," adding, "Public sentiment also strongly desires a significant change."