Chairperson Kim Yong-tae of the People Power Party noted on the 17th, "I will push for the inclusion of the spirit of May 18 in the preamble of the Constitution."
Chairperson Kim stated this at a field meeting of the Central Election Countermeasures Committee held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju, a day before the 45th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement. He remarked, "The history of May 18 must be clearly recorded in the Constitution, and the value of it is a standard that today’s South Korea must uphold together."
He said, "May 18 is not the property of a specific party or faction. That spirit belongs to all the people and to a free and just South Korea." He added, "I will fully embody the spirit of the May 18 democracy in all processes of changing politics, systems, and establishing laws, and this is the promise we make to today’s Gwangju."
Chairperson Kim expressed, "Conservatives have experienced two presidential impeachments. It is truly a painful matter, and I once again apologize to the people for our mistakes," adding, "Although conservatives have disappointed the people greatly, we will change as deeply as we have failed."
He also remarked, "I honestly confess that the conservative party hesitated in front of Gwangju. Sometimes we turned away, and sometimes we remained silent," stating, "I clearly say now, the People Power Party will no longer evade this." He continued, "I believe that both those who supported the impeachment and those who opposed it had their own sincerity and patriotism," and added, "We must nurture the constitutional order of free democracy in South Korea within the scope of opposing martial law and new dictatorship."
Chairperson Kim emphasized, "For the presidential election process, a significant solidarity of liberal democracy is necessary," stating, "Our goal is after the election, even if there are deficiencies now. After the election, conservatives will be reborn as the People’s Party of Liberal Democracy that enables a cooperative government." He urged, "Please join the significant solidarity towards the People’s Party of Liberal Democracy," and added, "I ask that everyone participate in the path of rebuilding conservatism that the people desire."
He stated, "Candidate Kim Moon-soo has expressed his intentions to apologize multiple times regarding the martial law, and the party is sharing that responsibility," and added, "I will ensure that those apologies are not merely words but are proven through systems, policies, and practices."