Kim Calls Yoon Heesook's Martial Law Apology "A Desperate Voice"
"Apologize Just Because of Impeachment? It's Not a Simple Yes or No"
Needs Support from Conservatives and Centrists... Dilemma over Martial Law and Impeachment
Kim Moonsoo, former Minister of Employment and Labor and a presidential pre-candidate for the People Power Party, stated on April 25, "I do not support all forms of martial law," but also remarked, "It is not a simple matter of saying, 'Martial law was problematic so let's apologize,' or 'Impeachment happened so let's apologize.' This is not a straightforward issue of O or X." While he is working to consolidate support from the party's staunch conservative base, he also needs to appeal to centrist voters, making it difficult for him to take a clear stance on the issues of impeachment and martial law.
That morning, at his campaign office in Daehwa Building, Yeouido, Seoul, Kim met with reporters and commented on the previous day's apology regarding martial law by Yoon Heesook, head of the Yeouido Institute of the People Power Party. He said, "Our party is very broad and is a place where a diverse range of people can come and express their own voices, much like a melting pot."
Kim Moonsoo, a presidential primary candidate of the People Power Party, is announcing economic pledges under the theme of creating a business-friendly Korea at the election office in Yeouido, Seoul on the 18th. Photo by Yonhap News
Previously, Director Yoon appeared as a policy speaker for the 21st presidential election on KBS and said, "Politics that aligns with power ultimately led to tragic outcomes like martial law," and added, "I sincerely apologize to the people." It is unusual for a senior official of the People Power Party to publicly apologize for martial law.
Although Kim is classified as a representative anti-impeachment figure within the party, he evaluated Yoon's apology as "an earnest voice coming from a desperate desire for the party to change."
He also stated, "It is not that I refuse to reflect or that I will not apologize just because others do not," leaving open the possibility of an apology in the future. This move is interpreted as reflecting the opinion within the party that, to increase support among centrists, a clear line should be drawn regarding martial law.
However, regarding the background that led former President Yoon to implement martial law, Kim explained, "The Democratic Party had previously committed actions such as reckless impeachment, legislative dictatorship, and budgetary abuses."
In a one-on-one debate with Representative Ahn Cheolsoo the previous day, he also expressed his opposition to impeachment, stating, "By impeaching former President Yoon, Lee Jaemyung is now running rampant." As support among hardline conservatives is being divided due to former Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo, Kim appears to be working to secure the party's core support.
Inside and outside the party, there are evaluations that Kim's logic is contradictory?he opposes martial law but also opposes impeachment. One People Power Party lawmaker said, "Unlike during the impeachment of former President Park Geunhye, it is difficult to completely abandon former President Yoon's supporters in this election," but added, "Without clarifying his stance on martial law and impeachment, it will be impossible to persuade centrist voters."
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