Hong Joonpyo: "I Will Accept Any Outcome"
Kim Moonsoo: "I Can Join Hands with Anyone"
Kim Moonsoo, former Minister of Employment and Labor and a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, stated that he would be fine not becoming the presidential candidate himself if it means preventing Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party candidate, from coming to power. In an MBC radio interview on the 29th, when asked whether he would support unifying with Acting President Han Deoksoo if it could block Lee's victory, even if it meant he himself was not the candidate, Kim replied, "Yes," adding, "I have no personal ambitions."
Former Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moonsoo, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, expressed that he would be fine not becoming the presidential candidate himself if it means preventing Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, from coming to power. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group
When asked about his positive stance on unifying with Han, Kim emphasized that Lee's victory in the presidential election "must be prevented at all costs," and said, "We must not become divided." He added, "That is why an anti-Lee Jaemyung grand coalition, or a 'big tent,' is necessary." When asked how broad the anti-Lee Jaemyung big tent should be, he responded, "If it means stopping candidate Lee Jaemyung, we should join hands with anyone, including Lee Nakyeon, who was formerly with the Democratic Party, or anyone else."
Regarding the method of unification with Han, Kim cited the example of the "one-stop" single public opinion poll primary held between President Roh Moo-hyun and Chairman Chung Mongjoon, who were two very different candidates. He said, "That could be considered one example." He acknowledged, "There are quite a few people who distrust opinion polls," but added, "Is there any faster method? There isn't. There are various problems, but I believe that opinion polls reflect public sentiment better than rock-paper-scissors or drawing lots."
Kim also expressed confidence regarding the results of the second cutoff, which were to be announced later that afternoon, saying, "Of course, I will make it into the final two, and I also believe I will come in first." He criticized candidate Han Donghoon, saying, "He is someone who worked with me for a long time as a prosecutor in the legal community and then impeached the president who had appointed him as Minister of Justice," adding, "I think that is the biggest problem."
Hong Joonpyo, former mayor of Daegu and a member of the 'anti-impeachment' faction like Kim, wrote on Facebook on the day the party was to announce the finalists for the presidential primary, "As I empty my mind before my final challenge, I feel truly at ease. Whatever the outcome, I will accept it and live in accordance with the world."
In the same post, he also left brief remarks about his fellow party presidential candidates, saying, "I even try to understand and learn from Han Donghoon's self-love," "I learn from Kim Moonsoo's righteousness and Taliban-like principled stance," and "I really like Ahn Cheolsoo's kindness," leaving readers unsure whether these were compliments or criticisms. Meanwhile, on this day, the People Power Party is announcing the results of the second primary, narrowing the field from four to two candidates. Among them, Hong stated on Facebook the previous day, "If I become the candidate and lose, I will take responsibility and immediately retire from politics."
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