Kim Taeheum: "People Power Party Showed Neither Apology Nor Accountability Over Martial Law"

"On the First Anniversary of Martial Law, a Clear Apology Was Needed...
A Decisive Response to Accusations of Rebellion Is Essential"

Kim Taeheum, Governor of Chungnam Province

Kim Taeheum, Governor of Chungnam Province, delivered an unusually strong criticism of the People Power Party on December 30.

He pointed out the political failure to regain public trust, stating that on the first anniversary of the martial law, the party showed "no apology, no accountability, and no resolution."

During a year-end press conference held in the main conference room of the provincial government building that day, Governor Kim said, "When the first anniversary of the martial law arrived, there should have been a clear apology for the mistakes made and a political closure."

He further criticized the party's inconsistent messaging, saying, "There should have been a clear direction to actively respond to the accusations of rebellion."

Regarding the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties, Governor Kim described it as a "disappearance of politics," stating, "It is clear that, under the Democratic Party's unchecked power and de facto one-party rule, there are inevitable limitations in fighting as a minority party." However, he also criticized, "Pushing things through without consultation or agreement is not politics."

He then questioned, "Even in times of conflict, shouldn't we be thinking about the future together?"

In particular, he emphasized, "We must squarely face the responsibility for handing over power and disappointing the public after the martial law," and added, "To recover, we must not avoid but carry out the difficult tasks of structural reform and internal renewal within the party."

He said, "What is most regrettable is that it is hard to see what kind of reflection the People Power Party is undertaking or what determination for change it is showing to regain the public's trust," adding, "Politics is judged not by justification, but by trust."

Governor Kim's remarks are interpreted as not merely internal criticism, but as a warning to the broader conservative political sphere.

He stressed that public trust will not return unless politics that apologizes when necessary and takes responsibility when required is restored.