Kim Yongtae Publicly Urges Yoon to Voluntarily Leave Party: "Requesting Decision for Presidential Victory" (Comprehensive)

Kim Moonsoo's Approval Ratings Stuck in the "30% Range"
Yoon Sanghyun: "Politics of Opportunism Fails to Gain Public Sympathy"

Kim Yongtae, Chairman of the Emergency Response Committee of the People Power Party, called for the resignation of former President Yoon Sukyeol from the party as his first official statement upon taking office on May 15.

At his first press conference after his inauguration that day, Kim stated, "I will meet with former President Yoon as soon as possible and ask him to make a decision for the sake of the party and a victory in the presidential election," adding, "As the chairman of the emergency committee, I will respectfully recommend that the president leave the party."

Kim also mentioned that, regardless of former President Yoon's decision, the party could consider "another procedure," such as restricting party membership for a certain period based on Supreme Court or Constitutional Court rulings. This was interpreted as meaning that, even if former President Yoon does not voluntarily leave the party, the party could seek measures to forcibly suspend his party membership.

Kim Yongtae, Co-Chairman of the People Power Party's Joint Election Countermeasures Committee, is giving a greeting speech at the 21st Presidential Election Policy Proposal Delivery Ceremony of the Korea Teachers Union held at the Central Party Office in Yeouido, Seoul on May 15, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Kim's decision to take such a strong stance appears to reflect a sense of crisis, as the official presidential campaign enters its fourth day and Kim Moonsoo, the party's presidential candidate, remains stuck in the "30% range" in approval ratings. Recently, both inside and outside the party, there have been increasing calls for the party and candidate Kim to apologize for their positions on the 12·3 Martial Law and opposition to impeachment, and for a clear break with former President Yoon in order to expand support among moderates.

Lee Junghyun, Co-Chairman of the Joint Election Countermeasures Committee, also urged at his first attendance at the Central Election Committee meeting that day, "I propose that we recommend former President Yoon's voluntary resignation from the party by the end of today."

Candidate Kim Moonsoo maintained his position during a press Q&A that day, saying, "The issue of the president leaving the party is a matter for the president to decide." It has been reported that Kim expressed a similar stance in a recent direct phone call with former President Yoon.

Kim Jaewon, Chief of Staff for candidate Kim, told reporters that day regarding the contents of the call between the two, "There are many controversies, but only one thing is certain: candidate Kim has never expressed any opinion on the resignation issue, and his consistent answer has been that he respects former President Yoon's judgment and decision." Kim also firmly denied reports that candidate Kim tried to dissuade Yoon from leaving the party or that former President Yoon reprimanded Kim for apologizing over the martial law issue, stating that these were not true.

Kim Moonsoo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Central Election Committee meeting and appointment ceremony held at the National Assembly on the 15th. 2025.5.15 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Some interpret this as candidate Kim not directly responding to demands from within the party for forced measures such as expulsion or removal, while neither affirming nor denying the need to "clarify the relationship" with former President Yoon. For candidate Kim, it is difficult to alienate the hardline conservative base that supports former President Yoon during the presidential campaign. As a result, there is speculation that the task of clarifying the relationship with the president has been delegated to Kim Yongtae, the emergency committee chairman, and the party and campaign leadership.

However, Kim Yongtae's "drive to demand voluntary resignation" is expected to meet considerable resistance within the party. Representative Yoon Sanghyun immediately responded after Kim's press conference by posting on Facebook, "Politics of internal division and opportunism cannot gain public sympathy," and added, "With the president and the candidate sharing a support base, if we continue to send the message of pushing the president out ahead of the election, will that support base really vote for the candidate?"