"Please Stop Talking About the Pardon" 2030, People Power Party 'MB·Park' Pardon Debate 'Boiling Up' [Han Seung-gon's Political Notebook]

Youth: "Democratic Party is unfair, so we vote for People Power Party"
"Talk of pardoning Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye is too unfair"
People Power Party leadership denies official pardon call but even denies impeachment

Former Presidents Lee Myung-bak (left) and Park Geun-hye (right)
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "It seems like young people have completely forgotten why they didn't vote for the Democratic Party."

As the People Power Party raises the issue of pardoning former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, voices of criticism are emerging among the youth. The 2030 generation, sensitive to unfairness, is pointing out that "if someone commits a crime, they should be punished." There is also criticism that the People Power Party is now showing the same unfairness and lack of reflection that was one of the reasons young people did not support the Democratic Party in the recent April 7 by-elections.

Recently, within the People Power Party, opinions denying the impeachment altogether or considering pardons have surfaced. Seo Byung-soo, a five-term lawmaker and the most senior member of the party, said during a National Assembly government questioning session on the 20th, "Many people, including myself, believe that the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye was wrong."

He added, "When we talk about conservative parties, the most important value to consider is 'rule of law,' and four years ago, our party directly participated in the impeachment. I feel that we are blatantly ignoring the rule of law that we should respect."

However, the People Power Party leadership emphasized that Seo's remarks do not represent the party's official stance. Nevertheless, despite differences in the evaluation of the two presidents' impeachment, views supporting pardons continue to emerge.

Joo Ho-young, Acting Party Leader of the People Power Party (center), Lee Jong-bae, Chairman of the Policy Committee (left), and others are entering the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 23rd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Hong Moon-pyo, who is running for party leadership, appeared on YTN Radio on the 23rd and said, "The impeachment issue should be left to history and judged from a historical perspective. It is not appropriate to debate it now by attaching the premise that it is a personal opinion." However, he added, "From the perspective of national unity, it would be better to make a decision and grant a pardon. Not making a decision based on a few decimal points in public opinion polls is, in a way, a narrow-minded thought. I hope they act generously."

Kim Tae-heum, who has declared his candidacy for floor leader, also pointed out in an interview with CBS Radio that "there are some issues when looking back at the procedures and processes" related to the impeachment. Regarding the need for a pardon, he emphasized, "Regardless of guilt, former presidents who led military coups in the past did not stay in prison for long. Also, having two former presidents currently in prison affects the nation's dignity."

As the pardon debate over the two former presidents intensifies, criticism is emerging among young people. Kim Jae-seop, an emergency committee member of the People Power Party, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said about the 'pardon theory for former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye,' "It has only been four months since (former emergency committee chairman) Kim Jong-in's apology," and criticized, "Isn't the party showing signs of regressing to the past?"

He continued, "Supporters in their 20s and 30s have contacted me a lot, saying, 'Are you going back to the old party? We trusted you and voted this time, but as expected, you are trying to return to the past,' and they gave a lot of harsh criticism."

Joo Ho-young, Acting Party Leader of the People Power Party Photo by Yonhap News

The youth are showing reactions of incomprehension. Kim, a college student in his 20s, said, "The reason I did not support the Democratic Party was because they created an unfair society and did not reflect or apologize. Talking about pardoning the two presidents means that the People Power Party cannot be considered fair either." He added, "The party should listen carefully to the criticism from people in their 20s."

Another office worker in his late 20s, Choi, raised his voice, saying, "Didn't we confirm what happens when you ignore the voices of young people in this by-election?" He added, "I wonder if they have no learning ability. The People Power Party is really frustrating."

Meanwhile, amid various opinions and criticisms about the pardon issue, the party leadership emphasized that there will be no official call for pardons. Joo Ho-young, acting party leader, stated at a briefing after the National Assembly emergency committee meeting on the 23rd, "Pardons are the president's authority, and our party will not officially demand pardons."

Regarding concerns that the party might become the so-called 'Road to the Liberty Korea Party' due to the pardon debate, he drew a clear line, saying, "That (pardon) and the idea that our party is returning to the past can never be connected."