An "'Yoon Impeachment' Mentioned by Kim Ki-hyun... What State of Mind Is This?"

"Jeondae, Unimaginable Events for Reasonable People
Apology Needed for Impeachment Remarks"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Ahn Cheol-soo, a presidential candidate of the People Power Party, criticized his competitor Kim Ki-hyun on the 12th, saying, "No matter how afraid you are of defeat, does it make sense for someone who wants to be the ruling party leader to talk about 'presidential impeachment'?"

On the same day, Ahn wrote on Facebook, "Are you that afraid of Ahn Cheol-soo?"

Ahn Cheol-soo, a candidate for the People Power Party leadership, is holding a press conference related to the party convention at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

On the previous day, Kim said at a conservative policy discussion in Gangnam University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, "Those who have presidential ambitions are not suitable (as party leader)," adding, "If current power and future power collide, impeachment, which I don't even want to mention, is a concern. The president's term has not been long, so such turmoil should not happen."

Ahn said, "Shin Pyeong, a lawyer who was the sponsor chairman for candidate Kim Ki-hyun, threatened that if Ahn Cheol-soo becomes party leader, President Yoon Seok-yeol might leave the party, and now candidate Kim Ki-hyun says there is a possibility of President Yoon's impeachment if Ahn becomes party leader," and strongly criticized, "What kind of mental state do these two have to have such delusions?"

He continued, "Perhaps strategically they wanted to create a fearful atmosphere among party members, but in my view, it seems these two are the ones gripped by fear," adding, "Just as a general should not tremble in front of soldiers during war, a party leader must not show fear in any crisis."

He also emphasized, "This party convention will go down in history in many ways," and "Things that people with common sense could never imagine are happening openly. We must turn this into a sensible party convention with the power of party members."

He added, "I do not intend to demand resignation over candidate Kim Ki-hyun's presidential impeachment remarks. Only lawyer Shin Pyeong needs to resign," but said, "However, candidate Kim Ki-hyun should apologize to the people and party members."

On the same day, Kim Young-woo, the election campaign committee chairman for Ahn Cheol-soo's camp, also harshly criticized through a separate message, saying, "Candidate Kim's remarks about presidential impeachment are reckless comments that shake the entire party convention."

Committee Chairman Kim said, "Saying that the president could be impeached depending on the convention results is a double-threat political tactic that intimidates party members and the public along with Shin Pyeong's threat of the president leaving the party," and emphasized, "At times like this, the presidential office should step in to urge a normal and fair party convention and declare neutrality."