"If You Believe the December 3 Emergency Martial Law Was Justified,
You Should Leave the People Power Party"
People Power Party lawmaker Jo Kyung-tae raised his voice toward fellow party members defending President Yoon Suk-yeol, saying, "If you intend to follow the president's will, it is right for you to leave our People Power Party."
On the 14th, Jo appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said, "If you think the president is right, form a martial law party by coming out in favor of martial law and leave the party."
He continued, "In Martial Law Proclamation No. 1, it states that activities of the National Assembly and local councils are prohibited. Also, Choi Sang-mok instructed the acting president to secure contingency funds for the emergency legislative body," adding, "Isn't it clear that the intent of the December 3 emergency martial law was to neutralize and dissolve the National Assembly?"
Regarding some People Power Party lawmakers defending President Yoon's emergency martial law as a "legitimate act of governance," he criticized, "If you think the December 3 emergency martial law is legitimate, then you should not be a member of the National Assembly from now on," and said, "Go to the presidential residence in Hannam-dong and take the lead in protecting the president. Those people are unqualified to be lawmakers."
He said, "Lawmakers who love the people and trust the People Power Party are qualified to use our party name, but those who do not are not suitable lawmakers for the People Power Party," adding, "Our party is not the president's power."
Regarding the recent recovery in the People Power Party's approval ratings, he emphasized, "This is not a result of our party doing well," and "We should not be swayed by approval ratings themselves."
Jo also said that the push for a 'special investigation law on insurrection' should accelerate. He said, "Our party has also proposed alternatives related to the special investigation law on insurrection. Comparing it with the Democratic Party of Korea's bill, except for the exclusion of foreign exchange crimes, about 70-80% of the opinions align," adding, "If both sides make concessions step by step, negotiation is definitely possible."
Meanwhile, regarding the talk of former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon's return, he said, "If there is political will and free will, a return is always possible," and added, "There are only a few people who are free from emergency martial law and judicial risks. If such people rebuild the party and show a new image, I believe it is possible to recreate the regime."
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