"Pro-Yoon Figures Should Not Run for Floor Leader or Party Leader"
"Support for Nullifying Anti-Impeachment Stance and Candidate Replacement"
Baek Hyunjin, a member of the People Power Party, stated that the failure to sever ties with former President Yoon Sukyeol and Pastor Jeon Gwanghun was a reason for the presidential election defeat.
On June 8, Baek Hyunjin appeared on JTBC Newsroom and said, "I don't think there was no opportunity at all," expressing this view. Baek said, "In order to overcome the situation triggered by the recent emergency martial law and illegal martial law, there were tasks we absolutely needed to complete by severing ties. Severing ties with former President Yoon Sukyeol and his wife, as well as with Pastor Jeon Gwanghun, was necessary, but I believe we bear significant responsibility for failing to resolve these issues during the election process."
Baek also shared her thoughts on Kim Yongtae, the emergency committee chairman who called for the invalidation of the party's anti-impeachment stance and an investigation into the replacement of candidate Han Deoksoo. She said, "I generally agree. Especially if we consider Chairman Kim Yongtae's position, at the time of the early-morning incident involving the replacement with candidate Han Deoksoo, he was an emergency committee member, and afterward, Kim Moonsoo's election committee nominated him as emergency committee chairman," adding, "If the party fails to open the door to reform and innovation through this process, he could end up as nothing more than a trophy of the failed People Power Party administration."
She also emphasized her stance that pro-Yoon figures should not run as floor leader or party leader candidates in the upcoming floor leader election on the 16th. Baek said, "We held our first general assembly, and some pro-Yoon lawmakers are trying to blur the issue by saying, 'Everyone is responsible.' There are certain individuals who were at the core of the Yoon Sukyeol administration and who clearly need to take responsibility. I believe it is reasonable for these individuals to step back from the party leadership and help the party rebuild itself with people who can make it a party that aligns with common sense for the public."
Finally, when asked about the possibility of former candidate Kim Moonsoo running for party leadership, she said, "The most common saying is not to trust what politicians say, but nevertheless, because I know Kim Moonsoo's personal character, I want to trust what he himself said." She added, "However, within the party, there are some who attempted to replace the candidate with Han Deoksoo and even called Kim Moonsoo a fraud. Many are now questioning whether their recent actions are not, in fact, steps toward a party leadership bid."
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