Jeon Kwanghoon Decides Not to Run for President
Disqualified from Candidacy
The camp of Pastor Jeon Kwanghoon of Sarang Jeil Church on May 10 fiercely criticized the People Power Party's decision to revoke the presidential candidacy of Kim Moonsoo, calling them "North Korean spies" and the "People's Impeachment Party."
The Korea Patriotic Movement Headquarters (Daegukbon), led by Pastor Jeon, responded to the late-night revocation of Kim's candidacy by stating, "Anyone who stands against the path of defending our system is now a target to be overthrown by patriotic conservatives."
In the early hours of the day, the People Power Party convened both an emergency committee and the election management committee, ultimately canceling Kim's nomination. They then reopened candidate registration for one hour starting at 3 a.m., and only Han Ducksoo, who had just joined the party, registered.
In its statement, Daegukbon mentioned former presidents Park Geunhye and Yoon Sukyeol, who were both impeached, alongside Kim, asserting, "There is a party that shows an allergic reaction whenever a patriotic conservative emerges to fight against pro-North leftists, and that is the People Power Party."
The statement continued, "This party, which selectively impeaches and eliminates only those who fight against pro-North forces, is either an agent of the Democratic Party or a North Korean spy. Having impeached two presidents and now moving to eliminate even a candidate, their behavior truly deserves the name 'People's Impeachment Party.'"
Meanwhile, Pastor Jeon, who had held a press conference at the Ja-yu Tongil Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul on April 24 to announce his presidential platform, has decided not to run in the June 3 presidential election. He lost his eligibility to run for office after being sentenced in 2018 by the Seoul High Court to six months in prison, suspended for two years, for violating the Public Official Election Act. The charge was for sending a text message in support of Jang Sungmin, the Grand National Unity Party candidate, during the 2017 presidential election.
According to current law, anyone who receives a suspended sentence for violating the Public Official Election Act is disqualified from running for office for ten years after the sentence is finalized. Therefore, Pastor Jeon cannot run for president until August 2028.
The day before, the Ja-yu Tongil Party announced that Pastor Jeon would not stand as the party's presidential candidate. Instead, lawyer Koo Juwa, who participated in the primary, would be the candidate. Lawyer Koo served as the spokesperson for the party's election committee in the 22nd general election and later became a member of the Supreme Council.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
