Kim Moonsoo: "Martial Law Was Wrong, but Impeachment Is a Different Matter"
Jang Donghyuk: "Jeon Hangil Has Fought Hard for Our Party"
Ahn Cheolsoo and Cho Kyungtae Reiterate the Need to Distance from Jeon Hangil
In the final TV debate for the People Power Party leadership candidates, held three days before the party convention, the four candidates engaged in heated exchanges over former President Yoon Sukyeol's emergency martial law, impeachment, and the far-right YouTuber Jeon Hangil. Kim Moonsoo and Jang Donghyuk, who opposed impeachment, maintained their stance against impeaching former President Yoon, while Ahn Cheolsoo and Cho Kyungtae, who supported impeachment, once again emphasized the need to distance themselves from figures like Jeon Hangil.
Candidates running for the People Power Party leadership election are cheering before the 3rd television debate of the 6th party convention held at the TV Chosun studio in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 19th. Photo by Yonhap News
During the third TV debate for the People Power Party leadership candidates held at the TV Chosun studio in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 19th, candidate Kim was asked by candidate Cho, "Does emergency martial law align with the values of liberal democracy?" Kim responded, "While emergency martial law is within the president's constitutional powers under liberal democracy, in this case, it was wrong," and added, "Former President Yoon is being held responsible, has been removed from office, and is now imprisoned."
However, when asked whether he agreed with the Constitutional Court's decision to remove the president from office, Kim said, "I accept the (Constitutional Court's) decision, but I do not believe it was entirely correct in all aspects," and explained, "The Democratic Party supporting impeachment and our party members impeaching former President Yoon are two different issues."
Kim especially stated that if he becomes party leader, he will launch an investigation into possible human rights violations against former President Yoon and others during the special prosecutor's investigation. He said, "There have been many human rights violations under the three major special prosecutors led by Lee Jaemyung," and added, "If I become party leader, I will immediately form a fact-finding committee to investigate what human rights violations occurred against former President Yoon."
Candidate Jang also responded to questions about impeachment by saying, "I accept the (Constitutional Court's) decision, but I have repeatedly stated that the trial process was unfair and that the right to defense was not guaranteed." When asked whether he would retract the party's official stance against impeachment, Jang replied, "Even if I could go back, my opposition to impeachment remains firm," and added, "There were other political ways to resolve the issue, and supporting impeachment was not the right choice."
When asked whether he would nominate Han Donghoon, former People Power Party leader, or Jeon Hangil for the upcoming by-election, Jang chose Jeon, saying, "Jeon has been fighting hard for our party since the impeachment and is also fighting against the Democratic Party and the Lee Jaemyung administration," and added, "I can nominate someone who is fighting diligently."
Jang also targeted Cho, saying, "You previously said that the 45 people who went to the presidential residence should be expelled from our party. If you become party leader, what will you do with lawmakers who continuously violate the party line?" When Cho replied, "If I become party leader, I will abolish the party line system," Jang pressed further, "In a situation where the fate of the party is at stake, like the last impeachment, is it right for only about 10% of all lawmakers to decide the party's fate?"
Korean history instructor Han Gil Jeon is smiling and talking with Kim Moonsoo, the party leader candidate, who is protesting at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 18th. Photo by Yonhap News
Candidates Ahn Cheolsoo and Cho Kyungtae criticized Kim Moonsoo and Jang Donghyuk by referencing Jeon Hangil. Cho said, "Watching today's debate, I was shocked to see Jang choose Jeon as the candidate for the by-election. Jeon is an advocate of 'Yoon Again' and is, in fact, part of the forces supporting insurrection."
Ahn targeted Kim, saying, "Jeon said at the protest site that 'he doesn't only support candidate Jang.' Don't you think that's rude behavior?" In response, Kim countered, "Jeon did not express support for a specific candidate, but it was reported as if he did, so I went to clarify the misunderstanding. Rather than being rude, I think he came to correct a mistake and explain."
The People Power Party convention to elect the new leadership will be held on the 22nd at Osco in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. If no candidate secures a majority among the party leader candidates, a runoff vote will be held on the 26th to determine the final party leader.
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