'Upright' Kim Moonsoo Says "The Person Who Put Me Here Is Seo Younggyo"

Park Jongjin, Incheon Seo-gu Eul Party Committee Chair
Speaks in CBS Radio Interview on the 12th
"Seo Younggyo's Martial Law Apology Demand... Led to Presidential Run"
"People Power Party Leadership's Attempt to Replace Candidate Also Provided Paradoxical Help"

It has been reported that Kim Moonsoo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, said, "The person who put me in this position is Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Younggyo," during the process of regaining his candidacy after the party leadership's failed attempt to replace him with former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo.

Park Jongjin, head of strategic planning at Kim Moonsoo's campaign and head of the People Power Party's Seo-gu Eul district in Incheon, appeared on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyunjung's News Show" on the morning of the 12th. He revealed this conversation with Kim, which took place during the late-night removal of Kim's candidacy by the party leadership on the 10th and the subsequent restoration of his candidacy through a party member vote.

Kim Moonsoo, Minister of Employment and Labor, is seated unlike other cabinet members, refusing to apologize to Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Younggyo during the urgent question session on "President Yoon Sukyeol's unconstitutional emergency martial law declaration and related insurrection" held at the National Assembly plenary session on December 11 last year.

Park stated that Kim said, "Seo demanded that everyone stand up and apologize, but I sat upright and firm. That alone brought me this far. I did nothing else."

Kim was referring to the urgent question session held at the National Assembly plenary session on December 11 last year. At that time, most cabinet members present, including then-Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, stood up and bowed in apology in response to Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Younggyo's demand that they apologize for failing to prevent the declaration of martial law. However, Kim was the only one who refused to apologize, which earned him the nickname "Upright Moonsoo" among conservatives. After this incident, Kim rapidly rose as a leading presidential candidate within the conservative camp.

Kim also sarcastically referred to the People Power Party leadership, which attempted to nominate former Prime Minister Han as the presidential candidate but was blocked by a full party member vote, as the "top contributors" to his rise as the presidential candidate. Park specifically mentioned former emergency committee chair Kwon Youngse, floor leader Kwon Seongdong, and secretary-general Lee Yangsoo, who led the effort to replace Kim, and said, "From Kim's perspective, he is grateful to them." He added, "Because of this, the Han Donghoon faction rallied to support us, the Hong Junpyo faction came to help, and everyone united behind us." Park also said, "I told Kim that he really should buy floor leader Kwon a meal." When the host asked, "So are lawmaker Seo and floor leader Kwon the top contributors to Kim's current position?" Park replied, "If you look at the result, they are the top contributors."