"If Han Ducksoo Runs, We'll Discuss Unification Plans"
Willing to Yield to Han?..."Unification Should Be Fair and Swift"
Kim Mia, Who Supported the 'Han Ducksoo Grand Ambition Theory,' Declares Support for Kim Moonsoo
Kim Moonsoo, former Minister of Employment and Labor and a preliminary presidential candidate for the People Power Party, said on the 28th regarding the possibility of unifying candidacies with Han Ducksoo, the acting president and prime minister, "I sincerely hope that there is truly a good person who can defeat Lee Jaemyung, make our country great, and bring happiness to the people."
On the morning of the 28th, at his campaign office in Daehwa Building, Yeouido, Seoul, Kim met with reporters and, in response to a question about a possible unification plan with Acting President Han, said, "Specifics are important, but what matters more is sincerity," expressing his thoughts.
Kim Moonsoo, a presidential primary candidate of the People Power Party, is cheering with Kim Mia, a People Power Party lawmaker who declared support for candidate Kim, at his campaign office in Yeouido, Seoul on the 28th. Photo by Yonhap News
Kim said, "When my approval ratings were high, I even prayed to the Lord to let me avoid this if possible, which shows how seriously I take my position," adding, "I am not doing this out of greed."
He continued, "But after former President Yoon Sukyeol was dismissed, this opportunity came to me. If I said I would not run for president, many people would criticize me. The people want me to run, so that's why I am running," he explained.
With speculation growing that Acting President Han will enter the presidential race, Kim's remarks are interpreted as an expression of his willingness to actively pursue unification with Han should he ultimately become the People Power Party's candidate.
However, regarding specific plans for unification, Kim said, "If Acting President Han declares his candidacy, then we will need to discuss the concrete details of unification," and added, "Since he is the sitting acting president, if I were to suggest discussing unification plans now, wouldn't people think I'm being unreasonable?"
When asked if his comment about hoping for a "truly good person" implied he was willing to yield to Acting President Han, Kim replied, "If I yield, wouldn't I be criticized again?" and stressed, "Unification should be done in a fair and swift manner."
Park Sooyoung, a lawmaker serving as the head of policy at Kim Moonsoo's campaign, told reporters the previous day, "We could reach an agreement with other candidates outside the party using the 'conclave' method (used to elect the Pope), and there may be ways to do this through debates and public opinion polls."
Kim, who was the first among the People Power Party's presidential contenders to publicly state his position on unification, also wrote on his social media (Facebook) the previous day, "Kim Moonsoo is the only candidate who is sincere about unification and can be trusted," and added, "Moonsu + Deoksu is the only sure-win card."
On this day, Kim Mia, a lawmaker who had previously supported the so-called "Han Ducksoo grand ambition theory" within the People Power Party, also declared her support for Kim Moonsoo.
Representative Kim emphasized, "I know how dangerous politics can be when it does not start from the heart," and added, "Kim Moonsoo is someone who always looks toward the lowly, looks down to the bottom, and truly stands with the socially disadvantaged."
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