The People Power Party members who supported impeachment and were close to Han Dong-hoon highlighted the party's failure to reflect and renew after the martial law incident on the 3rd as a major reason for the defeat in this presidential election.

On the 1st, Han Dong-hoon, a candidate for the presidential primary from the People Power Party, and members of the so-called 'Han Dong-hoon faction' including Jin Jong-oh, Kim Yeo-ji, Woo Jae-jun, and Han Ji-a attend a meeting of party officials at the People Power Party Daegu City and Province auditorium in Beomeo-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu. /Courtesy of News1

Jin Jong-oh noted on Facebook that the party "failed to renew" after the three major broadcast networks declared Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea as "likely to win" past 11:10 a.m. that day.

He added, "While we defended martial law and proclaimed conservative values, we shamelessly pleaded for votes from the public. Despite the election held three years later due to former President Yoon Seok-youl's arrogance and our decisive responsibility, the public keenly remembered the misconduct of blaming those who opposed martial law, within us and the Democratic Party and the opposition, and those publicly supporting it."

He continued, "The honest and fair candidate lost their shine a long time ago on Jeon Kwang-hun's Gwanghwamun podium, and despite the opportunities for renewal and reflection, by opening the way for those who support martial law, we missed the golden time for unification and consolidation."

In particular, targeting former emergency response committee chair Kwon Young-se and floor leader Kweon Seong-dong, he stated, "During the nomination process, the harsh and fierce blades of 'Yang Kwon' became overwhelmingly powerful against those calling for innovation."

Representative Bae Hyun-jin also stated on SBS election broadcasting that afternoon, "If efforts had been made to judge with the public's common sense and to find soundness within the party, 6 months would not be a short time. There is a responsibility for the missed timing. It's not solely the responsibility of former President Yoon and his wife, but also within the party for not waking up to it."

Representative Bae pointed out, "Since martial law itself gives the public a trace of the Yushin (Revitalization) Constitution dictatorship, during the time we were given, we should have reconciled with the public, apologized, and shown reflection. Instead, from December to April, we made the public more fatigued with the issue of the president who triggered martial law."

He added, "Afterwards, due to certain forces within the party that couldn't sever ties with the Yoon Seok-youl administration and the president, there were several disgraceful scenes in the candidate nomination process that could only be described as farcical."