[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Jae-won declared his candidacy for the party's Supreme Council member on the 14th. Kim, who was a key figure in the pro-Park faction, promised to put aside old grudges and take the lead in recruiting former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol.
On the same day, Kim announced through social media (SNS), "I will run as a Supreme Council member in the People Power Party's convention to be held on the 11th of next month," adding, "Putting everything else aside, I will step forward solely for the ruling strategy to work together with former Prosecutor General Yoon and our party."
He also expressed his intention to overcome some internal opposition regarding Yoon's entry into the People Power Party.
Kim said, "When former Prosecutor General Yoon was serving as the Seoul District Prosecutor, I was prosecuted by the prosecution and faced a demand for 5 years imprisonment and a 1 billion KRW fine, but I was acquitted from the first trial to the Supreme Court," and introduced, "As a Supreme Court precedent, there are countless cases where acquittals were given in similar situations as mine, and even precedents in Japan and Germany reached the same conclusion. However, an ignorant investigating prosecutor recklessly prosecuted me, causing all kinds of hardships."
He continued, "If I take the lead in recruiting former Prosecutor General Yoon as a member of the People Power Party leadership, I believe I can gain sympathy from those worried within the party and many citizens," adding, "It is realistically possible only if I step forward." Having personally endured harsh suffering from the prosecution under former Prosecutor General Yoon, he believes that if he leads the effort, he can also persuade the pro-Park faction's opposition.
Kim promised to establish the party's ruling strategy and secure 1 million registered party members.
Earlier, in March, he attracted attention by stating on SNS, "Yoon Seok-yeol may have appeared as a devil, but holding the hand of that devil and seeing hope to overcome the darkness is a relief in itself," and "I sincerely hope Yoon Seok-yeol succeeds because I believe his choice will benefit the Republic of Korea."
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