Yoon: "Restore the nation to normalcy... Rally support for Kim Moonsoo"
Kim Yongtae: "Yoon, do not come anywhere near the People Power Party"
Jang Donghyuk: "We have done everything possible to break with the past"
The People Power Party drew a clear line regarding former President Yoon Sukyeol's appeal to support presidential candidate Kim Moonsoo through a message delivered by proxy, stating, "We have done everything possible to break with the wrongs of the past and move toward the future."
Former President Yoon Sukyeol is leaving the courtroom after the fifth trial session on charges of leading a rebellion and abuse of authority obstructing the exercise of rights, held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 26th of last month, looking at his supporters. Photo by Yonhap News
Jang Donghyuk, head of the General Situation Room of the election campaign committee, held a press conference at the party's headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, and said, "We have already clarified the party's position regarding former President Yoon, who has left the party and is now a private citizen," adding, "The fact that candidate Kim has not expressed a different stance is, in itself, an expression of his position."
Earlier, former President Yoon, through an appeal read by Lee Dongho, former executive vice president of the Yeouido Institute, at a rally in Gwanghwamun organized by Pastor Jun Kwanghoon of Sarang Jeil Church, said, "In order to protect liberal democracy and restore the country to normalcy, please go to the polls on June 3 and give your support to People Power Party candidate Kim Moonsoo."
In response, Kim Yongtae, acting chairman of the People Power Party's emergency response committee, wrote on his social media Facebook page, "I hope former President Yoon does not come anywhere near the People Power Party," and pointed out, "Although former President Yoon left the party, in effect, he was expelled."
Jang also dismissed any alliance with former President Yoon on this day. He said, "Candidate Kim has clearly stated that the imposition of martial law was wrong and has apologized for the impeachment," and added, "We have completed revisions to the party constitution and regulations, and he has declared that even if he becomes president, he will not interfere in party affairs or allow factions."
He continued, "The issues of martial law and impeachment have entered the stage of resolution," and said, "When the Democratic Party was speeding and driving recklessly, it would have sufficed to report it, but former President Yoon tried to resolve it himself by imposing martial law, which resulted in a traffic accident. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, the police arrived, handled the accident, and completed the report."
Jang criticized, "The Democratic Party is still at the scene of the accident, honking their horns and shouting 'There was an accident,' and as people ask them to quiet down, they accuse them of being 'accomplices to the traffic accident,' trying to drag this presidential election along."
He especially pointed out, "Candidate Lee Jaemyung is like an 8-ton truck carrying dangerous goods, crossing the center line and speeding at 200 km/h," calling it "a real and imminent threat to the Republic of Korea."
Jang said, "The Democratic Party is trying to turn everything into a rebellion and link it to a former president, even though everything has already been settled and only the legal punishment of those involved remains. This is an attempt to drag this presidential race back into the past and block Korea's progress," adding, "Choosing Lee Jaemyung would be a regression, sending Korea back to the pre-democratization era."
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