"Political Tug-of-War Causes Suffering for the People"
Lee Junghyun: "Expressing Strong Will for Unification"
"Once the Method Is Decided, Unification Will Proceed Smoothly"
Han Deoksoo, former Prime Minister and independent presidential election preliminary candidate, declared on May 7 that he would not register as an official candidate for the presidential election if unification with Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, is not achieved.
At a press conference held at his presidential campaign office in Yeouido, Seoul that afternoon, Han stated, "I have no intention whatsoever of causing distress to the public up until the very last moment before the ballots are printed."
Independent presidential candidate Han Deoksoo is speaking about the unification of the presidential election at a press conference held on the 7th at the election campaign office in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
Han emphasized, "Political tug-of-war only excites the participants, while it causes suffering for the people," adding, "It is not the right thing to do. I will not engage in such behavior."
He clarified that if unification with Kim is not achieved by the candidate registration deadline on the 11th, he will not complete the presidential race.
Han held this emergency press conference ahead of his meeting with Kim scheduled for 6 p.m. that day to announce his position.
Han stated, "I have no interest in the detailed conditions of unification," and added, "As for the unification procedure, the People Power Party can decide as it sees fit. I will comply. This is my principle," he explained.
He commented, "Regardless of political camps, I do not want to call the current politics in Korea 'politics,'" and pointed out, "Korean politics is not politics, but violence, and it is a very low-quality form of violence."
Independent presidential candidate Han Deoksoo is leaving after a press conference held at the election campaign office in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the 7th. Photo by Yonhap News
He continued, "If we do not change this, we cannot move forward," and "That is why I am running for president. I have promised constitutional reform, trade resolution, and national solidarity."
He went on to say, "The next government will not be the Han Deoksoo government, but rather the government of everyone who agrees with this vision, in other words, your government," and emphasized, "If we can achieve this goal, it does not matter who becomes president. The only thing that matters is whether there is a willingness to sacrifice oneself and become a stepping stone, and that alone is important."
Han stated, "We must change politics for all of us to survive and for the economy to recover," and added, "My goal is to revive the economy by changing politics. If things continue as they are, our economy will collapse, shackled by politics." He also said, "In order to achieve this goal, unification among those who share this vision is absolutely necessary."
Lee Junghyun, spokesperson for Han Deoksoo's campaign, met with reporters after the press conference and described Han's statement as "a very strong expression of the candidate's will" and "a demonstration of determination that unification must be achieved."
Lee said, "Unification must be achieved before the candidate registration on the 11th, and since the People Power Party is the party promoting unification, this is an expression of the will that the party must come up with a very strong, practical, and immediately implementable plan."
Independent candidate Han Deoksoo's presidential election preliminary campaign spokesperson Lee Junghyun is answering reporters' questions after Han's press conference at the candidate's campaign office in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the 7th. Photo by Yonhap News
When asked whether there is enough time for discussions on unification, Lee answered, "Since unification must be completed before the 11th, there may be some delays in putting up banners or submitting promotional materials, but four days is sufficient. If the method is decided, everything can proceed smoothly and quickly."
When asked if Han's statement that he would not register as an official candidate unless unification is achieved was intended to pressure Kim, Lee replied, "Not at all. It has nothing to do with Kim. The idea that unification is necessary to win the presidential election is not just Kim's, but also the view of our supporters."
When asked whether Han would consider cooperating with Kim in the election even if unification is not achieved, Lee said, "Unification is the top priority, and any other matters can be advanced after unification is accomplished."
Regarding the unification plan, Lee stressed, "Whether it is 100% party members, 50%, or any other arrangement, I will follow whatever the party decides," and added, "If Kim wins, I will gladly and willingly accept the result."
However, when asked whether Han would accept a unilateral demand from Kim's side for Han to withdraw his candidacy, Lee dismissed the idea, saying, "That is not unification."
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