On the 10th, Han Duck-soo, a presidential candidate who joined the People Power Party, said, “I know that candidate Kim Moon-soo and other candidates are also having a hard time,” and added, “I believe our passion for victory is the same. I will embrace them and support them.”
Candidate Han held an emergency press conference that afternoon at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, saying, “To win, I would be willing to be any Deok-soo—Kim Deok-soo, Hong Deok-soo, Ahn Deok-soo, Na Deok-soo,” and added, “They all have important roles to play in the future, and I'm just a stepping stone that will pass quickly.” This is interpreted to refer to candidates who participated in the People Power Party presidential primary: Kim Moon-soo, former Daegu mayor Hong Joon-pyo, lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, and lawmaker Na Kyung-won.
He stated, “We must all come together. The party should be led by those who have worked hard for it for a long time, and I intend to focus on constitutional amendment and the economy,” and emphasized, “I sincerely hope they will use my back as a stepping stone to move into the next era. I came out to fulfill that role.” He also mentioned, “I have never thought that I must hold all the authority, and I will not in the future.”
Candidate Han noted, “I have never dreamed of running for president in my entire life,” and said, “The reason I decided to run is because I have felt deeply over the past three years that we must change politics.” He added, “If things continue as they are, there is no future for our country, regardless of who is in power. The conflicts and chaos we are experiencing will just repeat.”
He added, “I ran because I believe we must win. The goal of changing politics to revive the economy and save the country is both the beginning and the end,” and said, “We must win. Winning is not easy. To win, we must unite and let go of our egos.” He continued, “I have let go of everything when I declared my candidacy for the presidential election. I have never thought that it has to be me, and I will not in the future.”
Candidate Han said, “Unification is the will of the people,” and expressed, “I sincerely apologize to the public and party members for what has happened, regardless of the reasons.” He further stated, “I will work harder to ensure you do not have to see such news again.”