Han Donghoon: "Only by Severing Ties with Yoon and His Wife Can We Prevent a World Led by Lee Jaemyung"

Han Donghoon Urges Break with Yoon Sukyeol Again
"It Could Become a Proxy War for the Yoon Couple"
Kim Moonsoo Apologizes for Suffering Caused by Martial Law

On May 12, the official campaign period for the June 3 presidential election began, and former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon urged the party to break away from former President Yoon Sukyeol. Through social media on the same day, Han stated, "I urge candidate Kim Moonsoo and our party to make a decisive choice. Otherwise, this election will amount to nothing more than a proxy battle for former President Yoon Sukyeol and his wife, who declared an illegal martial law," emphasizing, "If that happens, we will not be able to prevent a world led by Lee Jaemyung."

Former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon is listening to candidate Kim Moonsoo's acceptance speech at the 5th Party Convention held on the 3rd at KINTEX in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo

Regarding his criticism of the party leadership during Kim's nomination process the previous day, Han explained, "The reason I took the lead in blocking the so-called 'pro-Yoon coup' was not because I agreed with candidate Kim's views on martial law, nor because I supported his past collaboration with pro-Yoon forces during the primary through unification efforts," adding, "It was to protect South Korean democracy, the People Power Party, and our party members."

He further warned, "We must sincerely apologize to the public and clarify our position regarding martial law and opposition to impeachment," and added, "We must sever ties with former President Yoon Sukyeol and his wife decisively. If we continue to defend them, the election will end in their favor, and we will remain under their influence."

Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party presidential candidate, is taking a commemorative photo after presenting the appointment certificate to Representative Kim Yongtae at the Central Election Committee appointment ceremony held at the People Power Party Central Party Office in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 12th. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

On the same day, in an interview with Channel A, candidate Kim Moonsoo said, "The public is having a very difficult time due to former President Yoon Sukyeol's imposition of martial law. While the economy and domestic politics are challenging, there are also significant difficulties in exports and diplomatic relations," adding, "I sincerely apologize to the people who are suffering because of martial law." He also stated, "Although I did not attend the cabinet meeting just before the declaration of martial law, even if I had attended, I would not have supported it," and emphasized, "Democracy is achieved through dialogue, compromise, and patience." This is, in effect, the first time that candidate Kim has expressed an apology regarding the 12·3 Martial Law Declaration.

After his campaign event at Seomun Market in Daegu on the same day, Kim told reporters, "I never supported martial law from the beginning," and added, "I need to discuss with Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kim Yongtae the extent and form of the apology." He also said, "Due to the Democratic Party's repeated impeachment attempts, special prosecutor bills, and the introduction of the Yellow Envelope Act, which the president had no choice but to veto, the president was driven to make extremely radical and unilateral decisions," adding, "It is right to resolve political issues between the ruling and opposition parties through dialogue."

Regarding Kim's apology, Cho Seungrae, chief spokesperson of the Democratic Party, immediately issued a statement, saying, "Saying you are sorry because the people are suffering, without acknowledging the rights and wrongs of the rebellion, is not an apology." He criticized Kim's apology as being a mirror image of Yoon Sukyeol, who insisted that martial law was justified to the end while merely expressing regret for causing inconvenience. He added, "If you truly wish to apologize, properly apologize to the people and expel Yoon Sukyeol, the party's No. 1 member. When fighting over the candidacy, you wielded the party affairs priority as a sword, so why not use it now to atone for your complicity in the rebellion?"