Han Dong-hoon, candidate for the People Power Party presidential primary, said on the 18th, “Let’s leave President Yoon Suk-yeol in the past. And let’s move towards the future.” The differences in positions among the presidential candidates regarding their relationship with former President Yoon are becoming increasingly distinct.
After a press conference held at the Daehwa Building election camp in Yeouido, Seoul, where the ‘announcement of co-election campaign chair appointments’ took place, the candidate responded to reporters’ inquiries about the ‘Yoon Again’ party formation moves by the legal team handling the impeachment trial of former President Yoon.
In response to analysis stating that “support for the People Power Party is relatively low among its supporters,” he noted, “I have shown a remarkable upward trend even among the supporters of the People Power Party recently. I believe that those who support the party are focusing on who the winning candidate is and why and how they should win.”
He added, “This presidential election is a vote conducted under martial law. The people will not grant victory to those who trivialize the martial law and effectively defend it. The People Power Party must boldly face the sea of martial law. Only then will there be a path to victory.”
Other primary candidates are also raising voices demanding a break from President Yoon.
Candidate Ahn Cheol-soo publicly called for former President Yoon’s resignation through Facebook that day, stating, “A party defending a former president cannot gain the trust of the people.”
Candidate Yoo Jeong-bok also previously said, “Let’s forget former President Yoon Suk-yeol now.” It appears there are growing concerns that former President Yoon’s failure to clearly express his position regarding the Constitutional Court's decision to remove him, coupled with his legal team’s efforts to form a new party named after him, could negatively impact the expansion of moderate support.
In contrast, candidates from the 'anti-impeachment' camp are firmly rebutting calls for a break with former President Yoon. This seems to be aimed at considering the core support base of party members and conservative public sentiment during the primary process.
Candidate Hong Joon-pyo met with reporters that day and said, “It’s not right to engage in such acts of savaging a corpse (demanding President Yoon to resign).” Candidate Na Kyung-won stated, “It is not appropriate to continuously involve former President Yoon while conducting the presidential primary.”
The leadership of the People Power Party stated that the issue of former President Yoon’s status could potentially affect the presidential primary and that discussions can be held in earnest once the party's presidential candidate is finally confirmed.
A key party official said, “The issue of former President Yoon’s status should be naturally resolved during the process of determining the party’s presidential candidate. If done artificially, there is a risk that one side may fall away, and it should be judged considering the overall situation.”