"I have never once thought unification would fail"
"Have not spoken with Yoon since dismissal, opposed martial law"
"Wife a shamanic expert?... A blatant lie"
Han Deoksoo, an independent presidential candidate and former Prime Minister, emphasized on the 6th, "Failure to unify candidacies would be a great betrayal and a breach of trust to the people."
Attending the Kwanhun Debate held at the Koreana Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, Han responded to a question regarding the possibility of unification with Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, by saying, "I have never once thought that unification would fail."
Independent presidential candidate Han Deoksoo is delivering the keynote speech at the Kwanhun Debate held on the 6th at the Koreana Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
Han stated, "Unification will certainly be achieved," and explained, "The will and persuasion of the people to pursue systems and policies that will elevate our country to one of the world's top six nations through unification will also accompany this process."
Regarding the analysis that a delay in unification would be advantageous to candidate Kim, Han said, "I am not worried about unification," and added, "Candidate Kim is also a person of integrity and rationality. I trust that he will do what is best for the country and the people."He further stated, "I support unification by any means."
When asked whether unification with candidate Kim, whose support bases overlap, could create synergy, Han replied, "Our support bases are not necessarily the same," and added, "If we join forces for the greater cause of the nation and its people, the public will lend their support."
Regarding former President Yoon Sukyeol, Han said, "I have not spoken with him since his dismissal," and added, "I have consistently opposed martial law, and I deeply apologize to the public for not being able to persuade former President Yoon to make a different decision."
He continued, "When the National Assembly demanded the lifting of martial law, I immediately went to the President and told him that martial law should be lifted," and explained, "I read the order to lift martial law myself, and struck the gavel three times with my fist to approve the lifting."
In response to criticism that a prime minister responsible for the martial law situation is now running for president, Han said, "I have served under the administrations of Roh Moo-hyun, Kim Dae-jung, and Kim Young-sam," and emphasized, "While I respected the President's intentions, I always voiced my opinion on matters that went against the will of the people." He added, "I reaffirm my resolve every day to prevent such events (as martial law) from happening again."
Regarding recent remarks by Park Jie-won, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, who referred to Han's wife as a 'shamanic expert,' Han said, "That is a blatant lie," and added, "My wife was vehemently opposed to my candidacy and still opposes it. I am deeply disappointed in Representative Park and demand that he retract his statement."
Independent presidential candidate Han Deoksoo is answering panel questions at the Kwanhun Debate held on the 6th at the Koreana Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
When asked what competitive edge he has over his presidential rival Lee Jaemyung of the Democratic Party of Korea, Han said, "Candidate Lee has built up the wrong kind of experience," and added, "Most of the policies he proposes will not benefit the country."
He continued, "I don't think he even knows what constitutes real policy," and pointed out, "Isn't he constantly changing his positions?"
Regarding his use of the term 'Gwangju Incident' during a visit to the Constitutional Association on the 3rd, Han said, "Regardless of the reason, I apologize to the people and the citizens of Gwangju for using such an expression," but also targeted candidate Lee by saying, "The leader of a certain opposition party, who is now also a candidate, referred to it as the 'Gwangju Incident' in 2014."
When asked whether he could cooperate with the Democratic Party, given that constitutional amendment is his top priority, Han replied, "If we communicate and persuade thoroughly, I do not think the prospects are entirely bleak, as seen in several successful cases in the past."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
