If We Could Go Back to the Impeachment? Lee Jun-seok, Joo Ho-young, Hong Moon-pyo '○' Na Kyung-won, Cho Kyung-tae 'X'

Joo Ho-young (from left), Hong Moon-pyo, Na Kyung-won, Cho Kyung-tae, and Lee Jun-seok, candidates running for the People Power Party leadership election, are posing for a commemorative photo before the debate held on the afternoon of the 7th at the TV Chosun studio in Taepyeong-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Candidates running for the People Power Party leadership election showed differing views regarding the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye. Opinions were divided between those who would agree to the impeachment if they could go back to the time of the so-called 'state affairs manipulation' scandal in 2016 and those who would not.

During the TV Chosun People Power Party leadership candidate TV debate 'OX Quiz' segment held from 5:20 PM on the 7th, when asked, "If you could go back to the time of former President Park's impeachment, would you agree to the impeachment?" three candidates expressed agreement with the impeachment.

First, Lee Jun-seok, former Supreme Council member of the United Future Party, who held up 'O', said, "I believe conservatives should set strict moral standards," adding, "In the past, even when former presidents' sons accepted bribes or three brothers accepted bribes, the president was not held accountable."

He continued, "However, this time, the president, who was elected with full support, failed to properly manage those who flattered him, which led the country into a state of ungovernability," and argued, "I believe the impeachment was justified. However, I pointed out that the legal reasoning was excessively applied in the criminal trial."

Sharing the same stance, Joo Ho-young, People Power Party lawmaker, stated, "The impeachment has already become a historical fact through the Constitutional Court's decision," and added, "If we went back to that time, although it was the same party, it was a great national crisis, and I thought we had to overcome this chaos and crisis through the impeachment process." He further explained, "I was much more concerned about the country than about a president from our party."

Hong Moon-pyo, People Power Party lawmaker, also said, "The impeachment issue should be left to history, and discussing the outcome again is unproductive," but added, "Personally, I feel sorry and apologetic."

On the other hand, the remaining two candidates held up 'X'. Cho Kyung-tae, People Power Party lawmaker, said, "No country in the world has impeached a president from its own party," and added, "They say former President Park's impeachment was due to state affairs manipulation, but President Moon is not free from criticism either." He explained, "I think we may have left an unfortunate historical stain by interpreting things too excessively."

Former People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won argued, "Looking at the current Moon administration's tyranny, I think it was wrong for us to impeach." She emphasized, "At that time, the people wanted a more just and fair country," and added, "Looking at what the Moon administration is doing now, there are many tremendous incidents that would justify impeachment multiple times."