"Unification with Someone Not Even in the Party is Unthinkable"
"Has There Ever Been Such a Case in the History of Political Parties Worldwide? I Don't Understand"
Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, criticized floor leader Kwon Sungdong, who began a hunger strike demanding unification with independent candidate Han Deoksu, saying, "If you are going to go on a hunger strike, it should be a hunger strike against Lee Jaemyung (the Democratic Party presidential candidate), not against me."
Kwon Sungdong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is holding a hunger strike in front of the main office of the National Assembly on the 8th, urging presidential candidate Kim Moonsoo to promptly unify with independent preliminary candidate Han Deoksu. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
On the 8th, after attending a forum hosted by the Kwanhun Club at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, Kim was asked by reporters if he had any message for Kwon and the party's senior advisory group, both of whom are on a hunger strike. He responded with the above statement.
Regarding claims within the People Power Party that the party constitution and regulations allow for a candidate replacement, Kim said, "Show me how that's possible," and questioned, "Has there ever been such a case in the history of political parties around the world? Right after officially selecting a candidate, there was even talk of unifying with someone who is not even in the party and has not even registered. Does that make any sense to you?"
When asked, "If you had proposed a broadcast debate and public opinion poll right after your nomination, unification could have happened sooner. Why did you only propose it today?" Kim explained, "It was the official position of the People Power Party to form the election committee after unification, not before. That is why there was a delay in the process."
Previously, on the 7th, floor leader Kwon began a hunger strike urging Kim to keep his promise to unify the candidacies. Kwon stated, "During the primary, Kim promised a swift unification. Many of our party's lawmakers also declared their support based on that promise. A politician, especially one aspiring to the highest office, must keep such important promises."
Kwon emphasized, "We have a historic and generational duty to prevent the Lee Jaemyung faction from coming to power. The first step is the unification of anti-Lee Jaemyung candidates. There can be no victory without unification. It is time to make a decision."
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