Yeo Kim Ki-hyun and Park Dae-chul Criticize Moon for Drawing a Line on Amnesty, Saying "It Undermines Unity and Panders to Supporters"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] On the 18th, Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, criticized President Moon Jae-in's stance at the New Year's press conference, where he described the pardon of former presidents as "premature," saying, "This is by no means the demeanor of a national leader."

On the same day, Kim said on his Facebook, "The ruling party leader shouted early in the New Year to pardon former presidents, but just 18 days later, the president says to forget about it. I deeply regret that the pardon has been reduced to such a trivial gossip," expressing his disappointment.

He argued, "Former presidents are not playthings for the ruling party to test public opinion," adding, "Although they claimed to cite public consensus as a justification, they trampled on national unity and dignity, merely catering to the Moon supporters and their base according to factional logic." He then questioned, "How many times have things been pushed through at the president's whim and according to what Moon supporters wanted, without public consensus?"

Kim criticized, "Just as they responded to the Democratic Party's party constitution, which stipulated no candidate nomination for the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections, with 'standards change depending on the situation,' if they had said the same about the pardon, at least they would have been called honest," adding, "The pardon power is President Moon's authority, and the responsibility lies solely with him. Rights come with obligations."

Park Dae-chul, also from the same party, said on his Facebook, "I am disappointed that he continues on the path of a half-hearted president."

Park said, "Is the public a 'selective people' to the Moon administration?" and added, "Look at the president who has not taken a single penny with the measure of conscience. I cannot help but feel frustrated about how long the harsh political retaliation will continue."

He emphasized, "President Moon does not have much time left. If it gets any later, even if he wants to, he won't be able to," and warned, "A 'lame-duck pardon' done near the end of his term will lose its value." Park urged, "Make a decision before it's too late," and warned, "If the vicious cycle of five years of political retaliation is not broken, 'Tomorrow's Moon Jae-in' could become like 'Today's Park Geun-hye.'"