Jo Kyung-tae: "Yoon Must Conscientiously Apologize for Emergency Martial Law"

"People Power Party Must Prevent the Loss of Moderate Conservative Votes"

Jo Kyung-tae, a member of the People Power Party, said about former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon that "he can gain an advantage in the competition against the Democratic Party."

On the 24th, Jo appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' and said, "From the centrist perspective, I believe that the president will inevitably come from among those who supported the impeachment." He added, "The candidate who can gain an advantage in this presidential election is one without judicial risks, free from the emergency martial law and Myeong Tae-gyun risks," and said, "a candidate who satisfies these three conditions and shares a common denominator can gain a significant advantage." He continued, "Within our party, the number of members who fervently wish for the regime's reestablishment will inevitably increase rapidly, and they will choose a candidate that fits that."

Assemblyman Jo Kyung-tae of the People Power Party. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Jo also said, "Ahead of the election, the People Power Party must move toward moderate conservatism. Only then do I believe there is a chance of winning," adding, "Currently, the party is becoming more extreme right-wing and is moving toward an excessively one-sided atmosphere, which is why recent polls show our party's support declining."

Regarding Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, bringing up the 'moderate conservatism theory,' Jo said, "They are strategizing to embrace even the rational conservative forces by calling themselves a 'moderate conservative party,'" and added, "The People Power Party must stay alert and not lose the moderate conservative vote."

Furthermore, Jo commented on President Yoon Seok-youl, who is about to face the final hearing of the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial on the 25th, saying, "Many citizens were shocked by the December 3 emergency martial law, which also caused great confusion domestically and internationally," and added, "Therefore, the president should at least apologize conscientiously for the emergency martial law, which would help unite and harmonize the people."

He criticized the emergency martial law as "a considerably unconstitutional and illegal, anti-people and anti-democratic proclamation." Regarding former leader Han's opposition to the emergency martial law, Jo said, "The fact that he was the first to courageously say, as the then ruling party leader, that he would block the 'illegal and unconstitutional proclamation of emergency martial law' together with the people holds significant meaning."