"It will be tough to face the powerful opposition,
but please fulfill your responsibilities as the ruling party"
Kwon Seongdong, former impeachment prosecutor for Park:
"I am sorry for causing you pain"
Park: "It's all in the past... Please don't worry about it"
Former President Park Geun-hye said, "I feel heavy-hearted that President Yoon Seok-yeol is incarcerated in a detention center and that we are facing this situation. I hope the ruling party will unite for the future of the country."
On the 3rd, former President Park met with the People Power Party leadership, including Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kwon Young-se and Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong, at her residence in Dalseong-gun, Daegu, and made these remarks, according to Chief Spokesperson Shin Dong-wook. This was the first time the ruling party leadership visited former President Park since the inauguration of the 'Kwon Young-se Emergency Committee.'
During the approximately one-hour meeting, former President Park said, "The current state of the nation is very difficult," and added, "Given the challenging domestic and international conditions and the severe difficulties in the economy and people's livelihoods, I hope the ruling party in power will show that it will take full responsibility for the people's welfare until the end." She also said, "There will be many tough challenges facing the powerful opposition party, but as the ruling party, please fulfill your responsibilities without fail."
Former President Park emphasized, "Since the two leaders (Kwon Young-se and Kwon Seong-dong) are experienced, they will overcome this situation well," and added, "In difficult times, it is important to unite hearts for the greater good."
She also advised restraint against excessive individual actions. Former President Park said, "Looking back, individuals may always have their own convictions, but it is not desirable for the ruling party leaders to let their convictions go too far and confront each other over every issue," and stated, "We must join forces. Excessive individual actions can make the situation more difficult." She reiterated, "It does not help to overcome the crisis if ruling party lawmakers excessively pursue individual actions based on their convictions."
Regarding President Yoon's impeachment trial, former President Park expressed concern, saying, "Regardless of the outcome, there is a possibility of national division, and I worry that the confrontation between supporters of both sides will make the situation very difficult."
Meanwhile, this was the first time Floor Leader Kwon met with former President Park since her impeachment. At the time of the impeachment trial in 2017, Kwon, who was then the chairman of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, served as the National Assembly's impeachment prosecutor.
In response, Floor Leader Kwon said, "Former President Park gave a lot of love, and I am very sorry for causing her pain," to which former President Park replied, "It's all in the past, so please don't worry too much and work hard for the country," according to Chief Spokesperson Shin.
Present at the visit were Policy Committee Chairman Kim Sang-hoon, Chief Spokesperson Shin Dong-wook, Emergency Committee Secretary-General Kang Myung-gu, Floor Leader Secretary-General Choi Eun-seok, and Assemblyman Yoo Young-ha.
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