People Power Party Kim Moon-soo's presidential candidate spokesperson Kim Jae-won noted on the 15th that reports regarding candidate Kim discouraging former President Yoon Seok-yeol from leaving the party were not true.
Kim Jae-won held a press conference regarding a lunch meeting between candidate Kim and U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Joseph Yoon that day and met with reporters, saying, "It has been confirmed that candidate Kim had communication with former President Yoon after he was designated as the People Power Party's presidential candidate," but added, "Candidate Kim had no other comment outside of saying he respects former President Yoon's decision." He also stated, "Candidate Kim has no intention of presenting or requesting any opinions regarding former President Yoon’s departure from the party."
He also commented on reports that former President Yoon would leave the matter of departure to candidate Kim's discretion, saying, "This is a matter for former President Yoon to judge and assess." Regarding candidate Kim expressing an apology about former President Yoon's 12·3 emergency martial law situation, he revealed, "Former President Yoon did not mention anything else."
On the other hand, Kim Jae-won expressed, regarding the appointment of former Defense Minister Jeong Ho-yong, who was responsible for the suppression during the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, as a standing advisor to the People Power Party's election committee being canceled, "I failed to confirm this due to carelessness during the process of compiling and delivering information," and added, "I feel very sorry about this."
He also addressed the criticism that bringing in attorney Seok Dong-hyun, who had defended former President Yoon, contradicts the party's internal calls for distancing from former President Yoon, saying, "I am seriously considering such criticism and humbly accepting it to improve in the future."
Meanwhile, Kim Jae-won commented on the meeting with Ambassador Joseph Yoon, stating, "It was a meaningful time to discuss mutual cooperation for strengthening the ROK-U.S. alliance and resolving North Korean nuclear issues and trade matters," and mentioned, "Candidate Kim plans to continue close consultations with the U.S. and allied countries to further solidify the value of the ROK-U.S. alliance."