Sungtae Kim: "People Power Party Must Show Sacrifice and Apologize for Martial Law"

A Public Apology for the December 3 Martial Law Declaration Is Needed

Sungtae Kim, Chair of the Public Communication Committee of the People Power Party Election Committee, stated that the party must sever ties with former President Yoon Suk-yeol in order to win the support of centrist and unaffiliated voters in the Seoul metropolitan area.

On May 27, during an appearance on SBS Radio's "Kim Taehyun's Political Show," Kim said, "There is consolidation happening in our traditional support bases of Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) and Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (PK). Now, we need to advance northward into the Seoul metropolitan area, and to do that, there must be a clear public apology regarding the 12·3 Martial Law Declaration."

Sungtae Kim, Chair of Public Communication Committee, People Power Party Election Committee.

He criticized former President Yoon, saying, "At the very least, he should express some form of regret to the people, but he continues to remain silent and maintains a confident stance." He added, "After former President Yoon's impeachment, the party must also take political and moral responsibility as the ruling force. The public is watching to see how the party will hold accountable those close to Yoon who abused their influence, but so far, the party has shown no real effort in this regard."

Kim continued, "We must reorganize our ranks for a final push in the Seoul metropolitan area. To do that, we need to make sacrifices for the greater good, even if it means setting aside personal feelings. If we continue as we are, it will become dangerous. How can we bring about any change without such sacrifices within our own ranks?" He went on to say, "Those who stood at the center of our party as close associates of former President Yoon must do whatever it takes. The public has grown tired of hearing that disaster will strike if Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, comes to power. Now, the public wants to see real change from the People Power Party, but we have not shown any such change."

Kim also drew a clear line regarding the possibility of a unified candidacy between Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, and Lee Junseok, the Reform Party's presidential candidate, saying, "It cannot happen." He emphasized, "It is time for candidate Kim to make a final, game-changing move that can upend the situation. In order to wage a public opinion campaign in the remaining week, the party must demonstrate a desperate effort for self-purification, along with holding former President Yoon politically accountable for the 12·3 Martial Law Declaration."