Yoon Heesook: "People Power Party Deeply Remorseful... What Did the Dismissed President Claim to Have Won?"

Yoon Heesook, Director of the Yeouido Institute, Delivers Stern Criticism of People Power Party
Cites Pro-Yoon Faction's Petition: "Lining Up Behind Power"
Says, "President Did Not Notify the Party of Martial Law Because He Saw It as Weak"

Yoon Heesook, Director of the Yeouido Institute, the think tank of the People Power Party, drew attention on April 24 by stating, in relation to the 12·3 Martial Law incident sparked by former President Yoon Suk-yeol, "The People Power Party is deeply remorseful at this moment. We sincerely apologize to the people." Appearing as a speaker for the 21st presidential election platform and policy broadcast aired by KBS on this day, Director Yoon said, "The behavior of the People Power Party was so shameful that we could not even face the public," making these remarks.

Yoon Heesook, Director of Yeouido Institute. Photo by Asia Economy

On this day, Director Yoon delivered a scathing criticism of the hierarchical relationship between former President Yoon and the leadership of the People Power Party. Referring to the past pro-Yoon Suk-yeol faction's petition incident, she pointed out, "In an attempt to appease the president, two party leaders were forcibly removed, and dozens of lawmakers circulated a petition to suppress a candidate running in the party leadership race."

Director Yoon stated, "Politics that either followed or failed to stop such moves?politics that lined up behind power?ultimately led to disastrous outcomes such as martial law." She continued, "It is painful to say, but because the party was so easily manipulated, the president likely did not inform the party in advance about the martial law plan. Had we known, many within the party would have rushed to Yongsan to stop it at all costs." She also criticized, "Not long ago, the president, who was dismissed and returned to his private residence, said, 'I returned victorious.' I do not know what he claims to have won, but what is left for the party is only deep despair and abandonment by the people."

She also mentioned that the three years under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration were marked by a political landscape in which the ruling party was outnumbered by a large opposition. She said, "Martial law was not the beginning of everything, but rather the eruption of a deeply repugnant yet familiar abscess in our politics. From the very day the new government was inaugurated three years ago, the majority party began pressuring for the president's impeachment. No matter how calmly one looks at it, the past three years have been a state of anarchy in which the majority party neutralized the government with its parliamentary numbers." She added, "If politics remains unchanged and only the administration changes, what difference will it make?"

"Let's Move Beyond Endless Political Strife and Start Anew"

Director Yoon asserted, "The new leader of the Republic of Korea must move beyond the endless political strife and lay the groundwork so that politics can finally rise to the level of the people, enabling the Korean economy to leap forward once again." She continued, "(The next president) must declare on the very first day of inauguration, by renouncing party membership, that they are not the party's first member but the nation's first citizen. The 'president of the people' must correct this abnormal crisis and step down immediately, serving as a 'three-year president.'"

She further emphasized, "To end this miserable politics, we can no longer delay constitutional reform that reorganizes the powers and responsibilities of the president and the National Assembly." She added, "(The next president) must immediately form a national unity cabinet upon inauguration and devote efforts to economic stabilization, but must cooperate in a manner completely separated from political strife."

She went on to say, "Our politics must now cut out the rot. Merely punishing one side out of spite is like putting a bandage on an abscess." She continued, "If politicians who have exploited factionalized politics more viciously than anyone else?thereby inciting hatred and confrontation?remain unscathed and even revel in it, how can we expect anything but a repetition of the current politics of hatred?"

Director Yoon's speech has been interpreted as the People Power Party entering a period of self-reflection. However, according to the Chosun Ilbo on the same day, the party leadership reportedly stated that there had been "no prior consultation" regarding Director Yoon's remarks.