Kim Moonsoo: "Our Main Enemy Is Lee; We Must Fight the Ruling Party"
Jeon Hangil: "Even If Yoon Has Faults, the Party Must Take Responsibility Together"
On the 22nd, Kim Moonsoo, a candidate running for People Power Party leader at the upcoming party convention, sparked controversy by stating that there is no reason to reject former President Yoon Suk-yeol's re-entry into the party. On the 7th, Kim appeared at a joint debate hosted by conservative-leaning YouTubers, including Goseongguk TV and Jeon Hangil News. During the debate, when Jeon Hangil asked what he would do if former President Yoon wished to rejoin the People Power Party, Kim replied, "If he applies for membership, of course I would accept him." Kim added, "Did anyone die or get injured because he declared martial law?" and emphasized, "The emergency martial law was lifted after just six hours." He continued, "How much money has the Democratic Party given to North Korea? The people who should be held accountable are former President Moon Jae-in and President Lee Jae-myung," criticizing the ruling party.
Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, is attending a current affairs debate hosted by the Together Forum at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 4th, shaking hands with Jeon Hangil, a far-right Korean history instructor. Photo by Yonhap News
When asked whether he would visit former President Yoon, who is currently detained at the Seoul Detention Center, if he becomes party leader, Kim responded, "Why wouldn't I want to go? But politics is about timing." He added, "There are various ways to respond, such as visiting him or starting a petition about the unjust aspects. We must fight against the Lee Jae-myung administration." Kim further stated, "It is a tragedy in our constitutional history that a former president is imprisoned," and asserted, "Not only President Park Geun-hye, but every president elected by our party has ended up in this situation. We must reflect on this and correct it." Kim also said about President Lee Jae-myung, "Our main enemy domestically is Lee Jae-myung," and stressed, "Now is the time for a true democratization movement, the third stage of the democratization struggle. We must fight against the brutal Lee Jae-myung regime, which oppresses the legislative, judicial, executive, media, and religious sectors."
Ahn Chulsoo: "Pinocchio Kim Moonsoo"... Cho Kyungtae: "Withdraw your candidacy and leave politics"
Kim's remarks drew immediate criticism from within the party. Ahn Chulsoo, a rival candidate for party leader, wrote on social media, "The true colors of the 'Pro-Jeon Hangil' candidate's 'Yoon Again' stance have been revealed. What about the apologies we made to the people together during the presidential campaign? Where is the Kim Moonsoo I used to know?" Ahn continued, "A lie about unification, a lie about not running, a lie about apologies. Kim is becoming 'Pinocchio Kim.' He is throwing our party into the swamp of a martial law-defending party and an insurrection party, which the Lee Jae-myung Democratic Party has set up."
On the 5th, posters of the five candidates running for the People Power Party leadership election were displayed in the National Assembly hallway. From the left, candidates Donghyuk Jang, Chulsoo Ahn, Jinwoo Joo, Kyungtae Cho, and Moonsu Kim. Photo by Hyunmin Kim
Cho Kyungtae also wrote on social media, "Does it make sense to say that violence was committed but no one was injured, or that a knife was wielded but no one died, so there is no crime?" He added, "I can't believe someone would even mention allowing into the party a person who committed unconstitutional and illegal emergency martial law against the people with guns and knives." Cho demanded, "Kim should immediately withdraw his candidacy and leave politics." Former leader Han Donghoon also commented on social media, "There was no bloodshed because martial law was stopped. The absence of bloodshed does not mean martial law was insignificant. If martial law had continued on the night of December 3, there would have been massive public resistance, the regime would have been overthrown, and the People Power Party would have been completely dissolved."
Meanwhile, on the same afternoon, Kim sent a video congratulatory message to the 'People Power Party Responsible Members' Council Executive Meeting and Jeon Hangil Special Lecture' held at the National Assembly, stating, "I will fundamentally innovate the People Power Party and create a united party through grand integration." The Responsible Members' Council is a group voluntarily formed by some party members. In his special lecture, Jeon Hangil said, "Some say we should sever ties with former President Yoon, but I disagree. We cut ties during the presidential election, but did the moderates come? The party leader should be someone who says, 'If there is any fault with former President Yoon, the People Power Party will take responsibility together.'"
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