Lee Jun-seok: "Please let TK embrace my view that 'the impeachment was justified'"

Mentioning Obama, Emphasizing Tolerance and Integration
Expressing Conviction That Park Geun-hye's Impeachment Was Justified
Integration Requires Coexistence of Different Opinions

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Lee Jun-seok, a candidate challenging for the leadership of the People Power Party, said on the 3rd in Daegu that "the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye was justified." Starting his speech with the themes of unity and generosity, Lee appealed for Daegu and Gyeongbuk to embrace the idea that ‘the impeachment was justified’ within the value of coexistence.

At the joint speech meeting of the People Power Party held at Daegu EXCO, Lee introduced the ‘generosity’ mentioned in former U.S. President Barack Obama’s 2004 Democratic National Convention speech and spoke about ‘unity.’ Lee said, "The prerequisite for unity is simple. Do you have the confidence to coexist with different thoughts?" He added, "You must acknowledge that people who express opinions different from mine have good intentions and openly admit that they are also patriots."

He continued, "I criticized former President Park for failing to exclude those who flattered her, which led to the state affairs manipulation incident," and said, "Because the country fell into a state of ungovernability, I believe the impeachment was justified at that point." Regarding the judicial handling of former President Park, he also mentioned, "Since it was a matter of legal argument, I respect that judgment." He said, "If my complex stance on impeachment can politically coexist as I believe, I am confident that we can achieve great unity."

Lee said, "If Daegu and Gyeongbuk can embrace these thoughts of Lee Jun-seok, the terrifying words of betrayal and revenge will never be exchanged between us again," and added, "The prosecutors who led the investigation into President Park but boldly confronted the corruption of the Moon Jae-in administration will not be intimidated." This was an indirect expression that obstacles to former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl joining the People Power Party will disappear.

He also expressed that he would not demand a pardon for former President Park. He said, "While I serve as party leader, I have no intention of bringing up the issue of pardons in the public sphere," and added, "President Moon Jae-in will decide on pardons according to his own judgment anyway, and I do not want to give political opponents any pretext ahead of the big election, the presidential election."

Lee appealed, "The world is watching that Daegu and Gyeongbuk are the source of conservative innovation and a political storm in this party convention," and urged, "With your precious vote in this party convention, please show that we will not return to the past."