Kim Moonsoo Apologizes with Deep Bow for Party Conflict at Meeting: "People Power Party Is One Team from Now On" (Comprehensive)

Apologizing for the Candidate Replacement Controversy, Stresses Unity
Reaffirms Commitment to Regime Change While Criticizing Lee Jaemyung
Kwon Seongdong: "We Must Unite Firmly Around the Candidate"

Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, attended the party meeting on the 11th and pledged unity. He also issued a deep bow as an apology for the confusion that arose during the candidate selection process.

On this day, Kim held a party meeting at the National Assembly to meet again with party lawmakers. He expressed regret over the various disruptions that surfaced during the primary. Kim stated, "During the primary, there may have been differences of opinion at times, and sometimes words and actions may have left wounds," adding, "As the People Power Party's candidate, I sincerely apologize for not being more inclusive."

Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, is performing a deep bow at the party meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 11th. Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, on the 9th, Kim attended a party meeting but arrived much later than scheduled. At that time, he said, "The party leadership is still mobilizing all sorts of illegal and unjust means to remove me, Kim Moonsoo, and to make an independent candidate our party's presidential candidate. I urge them to stop immediately," and added, "The forced unification being carried out by the current party leadership is nothing more than an effort to oust me, Kim Moonsoo, and to make an independent candidate the party's presidential candidate. Therefore, I cannot comply."

Afterward, on the early morning of the 10th, the People Power Party began the process of replacing its candidate by canceling Kim Moonsoo's nomination, admitting former Prime Minister Han Deoksoo as a party member, and registering him as a candidate at 3 a.m. Kim and others responded with legal action, but when party members cast opposing votes in a for-or-against vote, the candidate replacement process was halted. As a result, Kim regained his original candidate status and was able to register as the party's presidential candidate with the National Election Commission on this day.

Conscious of the series of disruptions and the controversy over the candidate replacement, Kim said, "How anxious the people must have been," and added, "I sincerely apologize and pledge to do better, which I express with this deep bow." After the bow, he said, "Now is the time for us to embrace our past wounds, unite, and move forward together toward the future," adding, "From today, we are one team. Let's fight together and win together."

Kim Moonsoo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and Kwon Seongdong, the floor leader, are attending a party meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 11th. Photo by Yonhap News.

Kim also emphasized the need for victory in the presidential election, mentioning the national crisis and the possibility of Lee Jaemyung of the Democratic Party coming to power. He said, "The Republic of Korea is facing a grave crisis. Our economy is mired in zero growth, and the low birthrate threatens the nation's future," adding, "I am afraid that the Republic of Korea I love may not be able to continue its prosperity as it has until now."

Regarding Lee, Kim criticized, "He is luring the people with sweet lies while knowingly driving the nation into debt and is engaging in parliamentary dictatorship," and added, "Lee Jaemyung has shaken the judiciary for his own protection and paralyzed the government through a series of impeachments. Now, he is even trying to seize control of the government entirely." He stated, "We must judge Lee Jaemyung and his faction, who are trying to destroy the future of the Republic of Korea."

Kim also pledged to reorganize the party's ranks. He said, "I will build the People Power Party into a great house that protects the Republic of Korea," adding, "I will unite all forces to block anti-state and anti-system elements." He continued, "The beginning of this is for our party to unite completely as one," and added, "As the people's president, chosen by the people and party members, I will realize politics of unity and responsibility."

Meanwhile, Kwon Seongdong, the People Power Party's floor leader, introduced Kim by saying, "Although there was a meeting between Kim and our lawmakers at the party meeting on the 9th, it was not smooth, so we arranged another gathering," and added, "There have been many twists and turns, but since the will of the party members is with Kim, we must forget the past difficulties and unite around the candidate to focus on winning the presidency."