Seo Byung-su "Park Geun-hye Impeachment Unfair"... Oh Se-hoon & Park Hyung-joon Recommend Pardon to President Moon
Some Opposition Lawmakers "Only 5 Months Since Apology... Trust Will Be Lost"
Citizens Criticize "No Will for Regime Change"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Opinions are divided within the People Power Party regarding the pardon debate for former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye. On the People Power Party's website bulletin board, posts criticizing the opposition party for raising the pardon issue flooded in, with comments such as "Do you want to lose the election again?" and "Get a grip."
On the 20th, People Power Party lawmaker Seo Byung-soo mentioned the impeachment of former President Park during a National Assembly interpellation session. Lawmaker Seo stated, "It is hard to understand with common sense whether former President Park committed illegal acts warranting impeachment, or whether it is acceptable to harass and neglect her to this extent. It is desirable to release her even now."
As criticism of Seo's remarks spread, Joo Ho-young, acting leader of the People Power Party, drew a line on the 21st, saying, "It is unreasonable to view this as the party's overall opinion. We cannot pre-check every detail of the interpellation questions, and individual lawmakers may have different opinions." However, he also supported the pardon debate, saying, "Many citizens are worried about the former presidents living in hardship for a long time."
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon also proposed pardons for the two former presidents during a luncheon held at the invitation of President Moon Jae-in on the same day.
A post criticizing the People Power Party for raising the issue of pardoning former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye. Photo by People Power Party website capture
Some members of the People Power Party criticized this, saying, "This is why the People Power Party fails to gain trust."
Emergency Committee member Kim Jae-seop said at the Emergency Committee meeting held at the National Assembly main building that morning, "It has only been five months since we apologized to the people," and criticized, "Isn't this why the younger generation says our party has poor learning ability?"
Former Supreme Council member Lee Jun-seok of the same party also appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said, "It is worth discussing whether the sentencing was excessive," but pointed out, "It is regrettable to bring up the pardon debate at a time when appealing to young supporters is important."
On the People Power Party's website bulletin board, posts criticizing the pardon debate also flooded in. One netizen said, "Why pardon? Is the People Power Party trying to lose all centrist votes?" and criticized, "I don't understand why they want to go to extremes. The presidential election is coming soon; is it because they have no will to change the regime? It's so ridiculous that I have no words."
Another netizen raised their voice, saying, "After losing four consecutive elections and barely winning now, they bring up pardons?" and "Do they think people in their 20s and 30s will keep voting for the People Power Party like this? Please get a grip. Lawmaker Seo Byung-soo's remarks are so absurd that I am speechless. Who thinks the impeachment was wrong? Let them say it."
Meanwhile, President Moon said regarding the pardon debate for former presidents, "We cannot ignore the public consensus, and it must work to help national unity. We have no choice but to consider these two aspects together." This is interpreted as meaning that deciding on a pardon at this point is inappropriate.
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