Kim Yongtae, in His 30s, Takes Center Stage for People Power Party... Han Deoksoo Declines Campaign Chief Role

Kim Moonsoo: "I Will Become a President for the Economy, Markets, and People's Livelihoods"
Kim Yongtae: "We Must Acknowledge Martial Law as a Mistake and a Fault"
Han Deoksoo, Involved in 'Unification Conflict,' Declines Position as Campaign Committee Co-Chief

Kim Moonsoo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, finalized the formation of his presidential election campaign organization on the 12th and officially launched his campaign. Assemblyman Kim Yongtae will serve as both the Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Co-Chief of the Election Campaign Committee, while Assemblyman Park Daecheol will take on the roles of Secretary-General and Head of the General Support Headquarters. Former Prime Minister Han Deoksoo, who was involved in a conflict over candidate unification, declined the position of Co-Chief of the Election Campaign Committee.

On the 12th, Kim Moonsoo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, presented the appointment letter to Assemblyman Kim Yongtae, who was nominated as the party's Emergency Response Committee Chairman, at the Central Election Committee Appointment Ceremony held at the People Power Party Central Office in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

On the morning of the 12th, Kim presented appointment letters at the first meeting of the Central Election Campaign Committee held at the People Power Party Central Office in Yeouido, Seoul. Previously, the Emergency Response Committee held a closed-door meeting at the National Assembly and approved additional plans for the presidential election campaign organization.

Assembly members Kim Yongtae, Joo Hoeyoung, Na Kyungwon, Kwon Seongdong, and Ahn Cheolsoo, along with former Assemblywoman Yang Hyangja and former National Election Commission Chairman Hwang Wooyeoh, were appointed as Co-Chiefs of the Election Campaign Committee. Park Daecheol, who was nominated as Secretary-General, will also serve as Head of the General Support Headquarters; Assemblyman Yoon Jaeok will be the General Director of the Election Campaign Headquarters; and Assemblyman Jeong Heeyong will serve as Deputy General Director.

Assemblyman Jang Donghyeok was appointed as Situation Room Chief, Assemblyman Kang Myeonggu as Schedule Director, Assemblywoman Jo Jiyeon as Message Director, and Assemblyman Park Juntae as Strategy and Planning Director. Chief Spokesperson Shin Dongwook will head the spokesperson team, Assemblyman Kang Minguk will lead the public relations team, Assemblyman Choi Eunseok will be Deputy Chief of Public Relations, and Kim Sanghoon, Chairman of the Policy Committee, will serve as Head of the Policy Headquarters.

In addition, Yoon Heesook, President of the Yeouido Institute, was appointed as Head of the Pledge Development Team; Assemblyman Park Deokheum as Head of the Organization Headquarters; Park Hyungsoo, Deputy Floor Leader, as Head of the Floor Countermeasure Headquarters; Assemblywoman Lim Ija as Head of the Occupational Group Headquarters; Seo Jiyeong, Floor Spokesperson, as Head of the Public Relations Planning Team; and Park Sumin, Floor Spokesperson, as Head of the New Media Content Team.

After presenting the appointment letters, Kim mentioned his visit to Garak Market earlier that morning, stating, "A market is a barometer of the Korean economy," and added, "I will become an economic president who revitalizes the economy, a market president who revives markets, and a president for the people's livelihood who cares for the public."

Kim then called Assemblyman Park Chungkwon, a North Korean defector, to the podium and said, "True progress is when each individual is free, not when Kim Jongun alone is free while all the people are oppressed beneath him," emphasizing, "I want to tear apart this fake progressivism."

Kim stressed, "The People Power Party must win," and clarified, "This is not for my own wealth or glory, but so that our compatriots in North Korea can enjoy freedom."

On the 12th, Kim Moonsoo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, Kwon Sungdong, the floor leader, and Kim Yongtae, a lawmaker appointed as the emergency committee chairman, are performing the national ceremony at the appointment ceremony of the Central Election Committee held at the People Power Party Central Party Office in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Kim Yongtae, the Co-Chief of the Election Campaign Committee who was nominated as Emergency Response Committee Chairman, said, "Having participated twice in the Emergency Response Committee during the 22nd National Assembly and observing the situation after the imposition of martial law, I believe that for the People Power Party, communication, reform, and unity are crucial." He added, "The essence of communication is the courage to acknowledge achievements as achievements and faults as faults, and the tolerance to overcome barriers of confrontation by understanding different opinions rather than condemning them."

Kim stated, "We must recognize as mistakes the fact that the martial law imposed by a president from the People Power Party was wrong, that the party failed to hold the president accountable for his wrongful actions, and that true cooperation was not achieved with the president before the martial law was declared."

Kwon Seongdong, Co-Chief of the Election Campaign Committee, emphasized, "This presidential election is a critical turning point that will decide whether we uphold the Constitution or condone its destruction," and urged, "Who should we build a clean and just Korea with? Let us all move forward together so that Kim Moonsoo can become president on June 3."

It was reported that former Prime Minister Han Deoksoo declined the position of Co-Chief of the Election Campaign Committee. The previous day, Kim met Han at party headquarters and requested him to take the position, but Han responded, "It would be better to discuss what is practically appropriate," and reserved his decision.

Shin Dongwook, Chief Spokesperson of the People Power Party, commented on Han, saying, "He said yesterday that he would help," and added, "We will continue to listen to former Prime Minister Han's expertise, capabilities, experience, and insight on trade issues and involve him in the election process." He continued, "I believe Kim will also seek his assistance."

Regarding the background of nominating Assemblyman Kim Yongtae as Emergency Response Committee Chairman, it was explained, "He is an assemblyman who symbolizes the future of our party," and added, "The candidate had a strong will to put forward a young and reform-minded figure as the face of the party in this emergency situation."

When asked why no pro-Han (pro-Han Donghoon) figures were included in the campaign committee, the response was, "Labels like 'pro-someone' are classifications made by the media; the party does not officially recognize factions."