Conflict over People Power Party's Impeachment Rejection Controversy... Joo Ho-young "No Official Request for Pardon" (Comprehensive)

Party's Progressive Faction: "Refusal to Accept Impeachment Denies Rule of Law"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Controversy is growing within the People Power Party over the issue of rejecting the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye. Among the party's reformist faction and others, there are ongoing concerns that rejecting the impeachment ultimately means denying the rule of law. As internal opposition continues, the People Power Party leadership drew a line, stating that they will not ‘officially’ demand a pardon for the former presidents.

On the 23rd, the People Power Party’s Youth Issues Research Institute, ‘Yojeumgeotdeul Research Institute,’ issued a statement saying, "Former President Park’s constitutional violations and abuse of power were matters that underwent impeachment and judicial judgment," adding, "Rejecting the impeachment is denying the rule of law. It is not the path of our party."

Earlier, on the 20th, People Power Party lawmaker Seo Byung-soo stated during a National Assembly government questioning session, "I find it hard to understand whether former President Park committed illegal acts serious enough to warrant impeachment, whether she committed crimes punishable by imprisonment, fines, or confiscation, and whether it is acceptable to harass and neglect a former president to this extent, from the perspective of ordinary common sense." Following this remark, criticism arose both inside and outside the party, accusing him of advocating impeachment rejection.

Regarding this, researchers from Yojeumgeotdeul Research Institute explained, "The victory in this by-election was granted again by the moderate voters who left our party due to the impeachment incident and by the youth in their 20s and 30s," adding, "This is because efforts for party innovation, including the apology for the impeachment incident by former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in, reached the hearts of the people." They continued, "Denying the impeachment nullifies our party’s efforts for reform," and pointed out, "It is a regression and a betrayal of the youth and moderate voters who supported us in this by-election."

The Yojeumgeotdeul Research Institute is led by three-term lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung as director, with second-term lawmakers Lee Yang-su and Lim Yi-ja, first-term lawmakers Kim Woong, Lee Young, Hwang Bo-seung-hee, Heo Eun-ah, and outside members Kim Jae-seop, Park Min-sik, Lee Sung-kwon, and Lee Jun-seok participating as researchers.

Former lawmaker Kim Moo-sung also put a brake on lawmaker Seo’s impeachment rejection claims. The day before, at the ‘Towards a Better World’ forum, former lawmaker Kim criticized, "(Lawmaker Seo) brought up an already settled issue and ignited the impeachment controversy," adding, "Is this helpful to the party ahead of next year’s presidential election?"

There is also a negative atmosphere regarding the pardon proposals for two former presidents, Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak. Kim Jae-seop, an emergency committee member of the People Power Party, expressed concern at the party’s emergency committee meeting, saying, "Those called party leadership candidates and presidential candidates are advocating for pardons with a united voice. It feels like the party’s official stance is solidifying around pardons because the most influential voices in the party are united," but also added, "At the same time, many young people feel betrayed by the pardon proposals."

As internal opposition continues, Joo Ho-young, acting party leader and floor leader of the People Power Party, stated, "Pardons are an inherent presidential authority exercised by the president’s decision within the judicial system," and added, "The People Power Party does not officially demand pardons for the two former presidents."