Han: "Victory Requires Overcoming the Sea of Martial Law"
Cho Kyungtae and Choi Jaehyung Appointed as Joint Election Committee Chairs
On April 18, former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon commented on the legal team of former President Yoon Sukyeol's announcement of the launch of the "Yoon Again New Party," saying, "Let us leave former President Yoon in the past. We should move toward the future."
Han made these remarks during a meeting with reporters at the People First Camp press center in Daehwa Building, Yeouido, Seoul, earlier that morning. Previously, former President Yoon's legal team had announced a press conference to launch the new party but postponed it the day before.
When asked by a reporter about the declining support for Han among People Power Party supporters, Han responded, "The public will not hand victory to those who effectively defended martial law," and added, "For the People Power Party to achieve victory, it must confront the sea of martial law head-on. We are the candidate and the team capable of doing that."
Regarding the recent findings by the Board of Audit and Inspection that, during the Moon Jaein administration, the Blue House and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport pressured Statistics Korea and the Korea Real Estate Board to manipulate statistical figures and descriptive information, Han criticized, "Statistics serve as the standard by which the public judges the government's performance and policies. If they manipulated them as they would stock prices, it is a serious problem."
He also addressed the Democratic Party's response, which labeled the announcement a "political audit ahead of the presidential election," emphasizing, "If there was manipulation, they should reflect on it, not make pathetic excuses."
Han also commented on the broader progressive camp, including the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, mentioning the relaxation of requirements for negotiating blocs: "If Lee Jaemyung's Democratic Party comes to power, we will see such things happen frequently. We will witness them gathering among themselves, setting their own rules, and imposing them on the public. Now is the time to step forward to prevent such a world," he stressed.
On this day, Han officially announced for the first time that six-term lawmaker Cho Kyungtae and former Board of Audit and Inspection chairman and former lawmaker Choi Jaehyung will serve as joint election campaign committee chairs for the People Power Party.
Explaining the reasons for appointing Cho and Choi as joint campaign committee chairs, Han said, "(Representative Cho) is the most senior member of the 22nd National Assembly and has earned deep trust from the public and party members through his long legislative career," and "(Former lawmaker Choi) has served as chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection and as a member of the 21st National Assembly, and his outstanding abilities and noble character demonstrated during his long public service continue to serve as a model for many people."
Choi explained his decision to accept the role, stating, "As the leader of the ruling party, Han Donghoon made it clear in the chaotic and urgent situation of the martial law declaration that martial law should not be used as a means to resolve political crises. Han Donghoon's election as president is necessary for Lee Jaemyung, a remnant of the old era, to exit the stage. I decided to lend my support to help Han Donghoon accomplish this task."
Cho also pledged, "The heavy responsibility that has been given to me as if by fate is to help Han Donghoon, a new, resolute, and strong leader, as well as a warm and young leader, to defend the Constitution, uphold the rule of law, ensure stable governance, and protect people's livelihoods so that Korea can achieve victory. Together with Han Donghoon, I will not hesitate to pursue change and innovation."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
