Kim Moon-su "Interpretation of Political Moves Is Free... Expect Yoon's Return"

"If President Yoon Is Removed, It Ignores Popular Sovereignty"

Kim Moon-soo, Minister of Employment and Labor and the leading candidate for the next presidential election from the ruling coalition, said on the 21st that "interpretation is free" regarding views that he has recently started political activities with an early presidential election in mind.

After attending the National Safety Inspection Party-Government Council held at the National Assembly that day, Minister Kim told reporters, "I meet reporters with the mindset of meeting the people," adding, "I don't necessarily think of it as political activity."

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo is attending the "2030 and Older Generations Both Win-Win Labor Reform Grand Debate" held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 19th. 2025.2.19 Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Regarding the suggestion that a Plan B for an early presidential election should be considered if the impeachment trial of President Yoon Seok-yeol is accepted, he drew a line by saying, "That is a matter for the party to consider." He added, "I hope President Yoon returns, and it would be desirable for him to return so that state affairs stabilize and normalize."

In response to concerns that distancing from President Yoon is causing the moderate voter base to drift away, he said, "This is the first time I have heard that the party is distant from the moderate voters," and retorted, "If that were the case, wouldn't the approval ratings be this (high)?"

Regarding the Constitutional Court's decision to conclude the final hearing on President Yoon's impeachment on the 25th, he sharply criticized it as a "hasty trial." Minister Kim said, "There are two retiring justices, so they say it must be done before then, but isn't this rushing the procedure too much?" He criticized, "Removing a president democratically elected by 50 million people according to their convenience disregards popular sovereignty." He also pointed to the trial concerning Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, over the Daejang-dong allegations, saying, "The progress is slow, and there are so many problems."