Representative Kim Ki-hyun, who was considered a potential presidential candidate for the People Power Party, announced his decision not to run in the presidential election. This follows former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, who is seen as a supporter of President Yoon Suk-yeol.
On the 10th, Kim said on Facebook, “In the end, we could not prevent the impeachment of the president. I, too, feel the weight of that responsibility and intend to take time for self-reflection and introspection.”
Kim remarked, “Although we could not prevent the impeachment of the president, the past four months spent fighting on the cold streets to protect the nation’s liberal democracy and rule of law have laid the foundation for the reconstruction of the free right.”
He emphasized, “Now I want to fulfill my responsibilities in my new role. Although this presidential election will be held in a very unfavorable terrain, I must uphold the desperate wishes of the people that Lee Jae-myung must never be given the presidency.”
Kim stated, “I will quietly fulfill my responsibilities in protecting a country where liberal democracy and the rule of law are practiced from the current crisis of rampant autocracy and dictatorship due to the monopoly of power, and in reorganizing our party as the centerpiece of the rational conservative camp to gain the support of the people.”
Another key figure in the pro-Yoon faction, former Minister Won Hee-ryong, also announced his decision not to run in the presidential election the day before. He noted, “The Yoon Suk-yeol administration, in which I participated as the head of the policy headquarters for the presidential campaign and as the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, faced impeachment. I have a significant responsibility as well,” adding, “I will not run for president to fulfill my responsibilities.”