PPP Presidential Hopefuls Welcome Yoon's Release Regardless of Impeachment Stance
Kim Moon-soo and Hong Joon-pyo Call for "Resumption of Hearings" and "Dismissal"
Oh Se-hoon and Han Dong-hoon: "The Court's Decision to Cancel Detention Must Be Respected"
Presidential hopefuls from the People Power Party (PPP) have found themselves in a dilemma regarding their political moves following the release of President Yoon Suk-yeol. This situation is closely linked to the growing influence of hardline supporters after President Yoon's release, especially as the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial approaches.
This is why, regardless of their stance on impeachment, PPP presidential contenders have unanimously welcomed President Yoon's release. This response stands in contrast to their previous focus on major policy proposals-such as constitutional reform, the economy, and advanced industries-that were reminiscent of presidential campaign pledges.
According to political sources on March 10, key PPP figures considered likely presidential candidates all expressed support for President Yoon's release on March 8, regardless of their previous positions on impeachment.
Kim Moon-soo, Minister of Employment and Labor, and Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu-both of whom have consistently opposed President Yoon's impeachment-posted on Facebook the previous day, welcoming the cancellation of President Yoon's detention and his release, while criticizing the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial process.
Minister Kim argued, "To dispel the public's deep suspicions that the impeachment trial schedule for President Yoon was unreasonably rushed to coincide with the sentencing of Representative Lee for election law violations, the hearing should be resumed."
Mayor Hong insisted that the impeachment should be dismissed and called for the resignation of Oh Dong-woon, head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung, and Seoul High Prosecutor Park Se-hyun, who investigated and detained President Yoon.
Even Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul, and Han Dong-hoon, former PPP leader-both of whom had previously expressed support for impeachment-welcomed the decision to cancel President Yoon's detention.
On March 8, Mayor Oh posted on Facebook, "Respect for the court's legitimate judgment is fundamental to democracy." On the same day, he also echoed Minister Kim's view by stating on Facebook, "The Constitutional Court should resume hearings to address both substantive and procedural flaws in President Yoon's impeachment trial."
Han Dong-hoon, who has often been at odds with President Yoon, said in a CBS Radio interview on March 10, "I hope there will be an opportunity to meet the President someday when the time is right." Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min also posted on social media on March 7, expressing his support for the court's ruling.
Meanwhile, as other PPP presidential hopefuls have entered a period of strategic pause, Han Dong-hoon plans to hold a book concert in Busan on this day, following a similar event in Seoul on March 5. He also continued his political checks on Lee Jae-myung, stating, "Ever since I published my book, Representative Lee has stopped claiming to be a centrist conservative, hasn't he?"
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