"Han Ducksoo Will Be the First to Step Down"
"Only Personal Gains Remain in the Party Leadership Race"
"Kim Sangwook's Departure, Need to Embrace Rational Figures"
Kim Minseok, Co-Chair of the Election Committee for the Democratic Party of Korea, predicted on May 8 that the ongoing controversy over the unification of presidential candidates Kim Moonsoo of the People Power Party and Han Ducksoo, an independent preliminary presidential candidate, "will ultimately have a significant impact."
Speaking to reporters at the National Assembly on this day, Kim said, "I believe that, inevitably, the People Power Party is headed toward a major split." He added, "We were the first to experiment with the unification process in the past, and having observed many such processes, I can see how the mechanism works." He further commented, "The unification attempt by the People Power Party lacks any sense of fair play." Regarding the escalating conflict, he stated, "In the end, it is only about who will take control of the party," and predicted, "Han Ducksoo, who has nothing to do with party leadership, will be the first to step down."
Kim also expressed skepticism about the momentum for unification between the two candidates. He explained, "Typically, candidate unification creates synergy when candidates with different support bases combine their approval ratings to defeat their opponent. However, in this case, the candidates do not have different support bases; instead, the competition is about who has the stronger base."
Regarding Han Ducksoo, Kim remarked, "There is only a negligible difference in approval ratings," and criticized, "In reality, Han was waiting for impeachment during his time as acting president, but since the Democratic Party did not proceed with it, he had no choice but to run as an independent, without money or support."
Kim showed a comparatively sympathetic stance toward Kim Moonsoo. He said, "It is reasonable for Kim Moonsoo to hold out," and added, "If unification is the goal, there is validity to the argument that he should unite with Lee Nakyon, Senior Advisor of the New Future Democratic Party, and Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party. However, within the People Power Party, no one is interested in the presidential election." He further criticized the current state of the People Power Party, saying, "What kind of party is it when half of its lawmakers support someone outside the party?"
Regarding the Democratic Party's position, Kim stated, "Just as former President Yoon Sukyeol brought about his own downfall, the People Power Party is self-destructing through a flawed unification process. However, this is not something for us to celebrate." He emphasized, "Our basic stance is simply to be cautious in our words and actions and to prepare seriously for the future."
Regarding Representative Kim Sangwook, who announced his departure from the People Power Party on this day, Kim said, "I have come to believe that there is no intention for a healthy conservatism to take root and participate in politics in Korea." He continued, "(Representative Kim) may establish a new party or choose another party, but I believe that both the current and future Democratic Party should move in a direction that upholds progressive values while also embracing more rational figures from the centrist and conservative spheres in our society. Therefore, I think the party should become one that can embrace not only Representative Kim but also many others."
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