Kim Moon-soo: "Yoon Encouraged to Do Well... Clean Hands Defeat Lee Jae-myung"

Declaration of Candidacy on the 9th After Joining People Power Party
"Yoon said 'You worked hard' in a phone call after I resigned as minister"
"I, who am clean, will face defendant Lee Jaemyung"

Former Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo declared his presidential candidacy on the 9th, and it was reported that former President Yoon Seok-yeol told him to "do well" after he stepped down from his ministerial position. Kim, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, said in an interview with TV Chosun's 'News 9' that afternoon, "When I resigned from the ministerial position this time, I called the (former President Yoon Seok-yeol) who appointed me and told him, 'I have resigned like this,'" adding, "He said, 'Do well,' and 'You worked hard all this time,' and I also said, 'The President worked very hard,' and we exchanged words to that effect."

Former Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

However, he said he did not have any conversation with former President Yoon regarding his presidential candidacy. Kim said, "The process after former President Yoon declared martial law, was impeached and imprisoned, and later dismissed, was truly a difficult process to endure," adding, "Many people feel regret and see problems, but since it was a final ruling by the Constitutional Court, there is no appeal, and we cannot but accept it."

Regarding the reason for deciding to run for president, he said, "I had never prepared for the presidential election. It was neither something I wanted nor planned," adding, "It seems that more and more people called my name out of frustration." He continued, "I dream that the weak live a dignified life, that those who are struggling and having a hard time can live with pride, and that young people can get jobs and have dreams," emphasizing, "From the bottom of life, I have never forgotten the dream of making this country truly great since I was a high school senior in my teenage years."

On his 'centrist expandability,' he said, "No one has gone as far left as I have, and no one has gone as far right as I have," adding, "If there is a politician who has lived with the lives of the disadvantaged and worked to solve those problems as much as I have, I hope they will compare notes with me."

Former Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo held a press conference at the National Assembly on the 9th to announce his candidacy for the 21st presidential election. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

On the same day, Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly to announce his presidential candidacy, saying, "Kim Moon-soo will defeat Lee Jae-myung," and "Kim Moon-soo, with clean hands and nothing to lose, is the perfect candidate to face Lee Jae-myung, who is on trial for 12 charges." He said, "I, Kim Moon-soo, will firmly correct the Democratic Party led by Lee Jae-myung, who will drive South Korea into chaos and ruin with lies and sweet talk," adding, "Only I, Kim Moon-soo, who will not be summoned by the prosecution over money issues, can do this. Only I, Kim Moon-soo, who does not lie, can do this. Only I, Kim Moon-soo, who fights properly, can do this."

He also said, "There are forces in our society that persistently insist on pro-North Korea, anti-American, pro-China, and anti-business policies under the banner of people's democracy, denying liberal democracy and shaking the foundation of the country. The security and economic threats from China are also becoming a reality," adding, "We must confront and overcome the forces that deny South Korea's great achievements." He then appealed, "Let us move forward together to change the powerless party and the crisis facing South Korea."