Kim Sang-wook: "People Power Party must sever ties with the President... Han Dong-hoon likely to act soon"

"Kim Moon-soo and Hong Jun-pyo Alone Cannot Persuade Moderates"

Kim Sang-wook, a member of the People Power Party, predicted that former leader Han Dong-hoon would make a move "around the end of this week or next week" amid talks of a possible early presidential election this spring. Former leader Han has been in hiding for over a month since resigning from his party leadership position on December 16 last year.

On the 4th, Kim said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "This is not Han's statement but just my personal opinion," while making this prediction. He added, "Right and wrong come before approval ratings and interests," emphasizing, "The party's leader and presidential candidate should be someone who establishes and implements conservative values and demonstrates vision and execution ability."

Handonghun, leader of the People Power Party, is greeting supporters after concluding a press conference regarding his resignation as party leader at the National Assembly on December 16 last year. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

He also viewed former leader Han as competitive in an early presidential election. Kim said, "In presidential elections, the hardline supporters on both sides consolidate, so ultimately the moderate voters decide the president," and questioned, "Would the moderates give their votes to those who supported martial law and said the president should not be impeached?"

He continued, "Someone who can embrace not only conservative ideology but also progressive ideology can reasonably persuade the moderate voters. But can Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo or Daegu Mayor Hong Jun-pyo do that?" He added, "In the end, the conservative options seem to be only former leader Han, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min."

Furthermore, he argued that the People Power Party should sever ties with President Yoon Suk-yeol. He pointed out, "Although the party's approval rating has risen in recent polls, this is a bad approval rating," and criticized, "Raising approval ratings by provoking social conflicts and strengthening factional logic is corroding society and the nation." He also emphasized, "True approval ratings come from uniting society and presenting trust and vision to the people," adding, "We must sever ties with President Yoon, who violated the constitution and betrayed democracy and conservative values. We need to renew ourselves for the sake of conservative values, democracy, and the people."