[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Jeong Byeong-guk, a member of the Future United Party leaving the National Assembly after five terms, said regarding the 'pardon theory' for former presidents, "It is time to grant pardons."
On the 28th, Jeong appeared on BBS Radio's 'Park Kyung-soo's Morning Journal' and said, "Former President Park Geun-hye was impeached. When a sitting president is impeached, they take responsibility for all the consequences that follow."
He added, "Regarding former President Lee Myung-bak, although the trial is not yet over, President Moon Jae-in should generously resolve this in the process of finishing his term for the sake of national unity. He emphasized integration, so if we continue to argue with partisan logic on this matter, can national unity be achieved?"
On the same day, Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the United Party, discussed economic cooperation after the COVID-19 pandemic during a luncheon meeting with President Moon. There is speculation that the topic of pardoning former presidents may arise during this discussion.
Regarding the controversy surrounding Yoon Mi-hyang, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, Jeong said, "I cannot understand the Democratic Party leader making statements that seem to protect her while hesitating, and some Democratic Party members doing the same. No matter how important partisan logic is or how much they support their side, this cannot continue."
Jeong criticized, "Based on the facts revealed so far, it seems that Yoon Mi-hyang has, to put it bluntly, 'taken advantage' of the comfort women. When criticism or raising issues about Yoon Mi-hyang is framed as pro-Japanese, it clearly shows that those people have approached the comfort women issue with political interests rather than genuine concern."
Regarding the launch of the 'Kim Jong-in Emergency Committee,' he expressed, "It is a committee with many regrets," and said, "The reality the United Party faces cannot be resolved by the will of one person alone."
He continued, "Ultimately, unless the members have the mindset and willingness to change and innovate, no matter how excellent the person leading is, it will not be easy. If we have Chairman Kim Jong-in, the party's National Assembly members must play a role in establishing his authority."
He also requested Chairman Kim to "listen to many people's opinions, which may not be easy, but once the direction of change is set, it is necessary to persuade and implement it."
He expressed concerns about the authority of the emergency committee established after the election, saying, "This emergency committee was formed after the election, so the question is where to find authority," and "there are concerns about whether the members are ready to agree, empathize, and accept any good reform proposals."
Jeong also emphasized that the timing for independent members to rejoin the party should be after the emergency committee changes the party's structure. He said, "There are differences in thinking at the time the emergency committee was launched, so if they join now, it could cause considerable confusion. If they can join after the emergency committee is completed and the United Party has changed, then they should join at that time."
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