[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Kim Jaeseop, a member of the People Power Party's Emergency Response Committee, sharply criticized the proposal for pardoning former presidents raised within the party, saying, "This is why the younger generation even says that our party lacks learning ability."
On the morning of the 21st, at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held in the National Assembly main building, Kim said, "Yesterday, there was talk about pardoning former President Park Geun-hye. After seeing the Democratic Party being severely reprimanded in this election, I sincerely want to ask our party members if nothing comes to mind," he said.
He added, "Our party underwent the solemn judgment of impeachment, and all members knelt down and apologized to the people just four years ago," and "Although it was quite late, it was only five months ago that our party sincerely apologized regarding former presidents."
He continued, "It has only been five months since we apologized to the people," and "This is why, even though people reluctantly voted for us twice this time, there are comments that they just can't feel affection for the People Power Party. Despite the arrogant and incompetent Moon Jae-in administration and the Democratic Party continuing their unreasonable mismanagement for several years, the reason the people do not fully trust our party," he pointed out.
He then emphasized, "This election should be engraved as a stern command from the people not only to the Democratic Party but also to our People Power Party to reflect on and reconsider the past," and "The party must look toward the future, not the past."
President Moon Jae-in is having a conversation before a luncheon meeting with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon at Sangchunjae, the Blue House, on the 21st. / Photo by Yonhap News
Earlier, Seo Byung-soo, a member of the same party, argued during the National Assembly's government questioning on the 20th, "It is hard to understand with common sense whether former President Park really committed illegal acts warranting impeachment, and whether it is acceptable to torment and neglect her to this extent. It is desirable to release her even now."
Also, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon met President Moon Jae-in that day and proposed pardons for former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye. After a luncheon at the Blue House, Mayor Oh held a briefing at Seoul City Hall and said, "We discussed various current issues and mainly proposed a few things," adding, "We mentioned the issue of pardoning the two former presidents."
In response, President Moon said, "We cannot ignore the public consensus. It should act to help national unity," the Blue House reported.
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