First Lady Kim Geon-hee returning to Seoul Airport on the 22nd after a 4-day visit to the Czech Republic. On the left in the photo is Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the People Power Party. Presidential Photography Division
‘ Controversy continues within the ruling party concerning the ‘Kim Geon-hee First Lady National Apology Debate’.
On the 29th, a pro-government lawmaker said in a conversation with the Chosun Ilbo: “Shouldn’t we focus on policy drive to support the approval rating right away? It will be difficult to make a comeback without resolving the issue of the First Lady through a thoughtful apology considering public sentiment.” Previously, Kim Yong-tae, a People Power Party lawmaker, appeared on CBS Radio on the 27th and said, “To defend the First Lady, (the President’s office) should have given legitimacy to the ruling party.” In addition, Kim Jong-hyuk, a senior member of the People Power Party, said, “I have not met anyone who says that an apology from Mrs. Kim is unnecessary” (YTN Radio on the 26th).
The basis of those arguing for an apology is public opinion. According to the national survey in the 4th week of September (NBS), approval for the Special Prosecutor’s Bill for Mrs. Kim reached 65%. Even in Daegu and Gyeongbuk (TK), the base of support for the ruling party, approval was at 58% (Refer to the website of the Central Election Poll Review Commission for more details).
On the other hand, critics in the pro-Yoon faction argue against the apology, saying, “What kind of apology can be made when the prosecution investigation has not yet concluded?” (Sung Il-jong, CBS Radio on the 27th), and “An apology could serve as a catalyst to escalate controversy” (Kim Jae-won, YTN Radio on the 27th). A presidential office official also stated, “While it is urgent to respond to the Yeo-ya issue, some within the ruling party are only criticizing and demanding apologies without mentioning the manipulation by Pastor Choi Jae-young regarding Mrs. Kim.”
During the National Assembly plenary session on the 19th, the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor’s Bill was passed amid the absence of People Power Party members. Reporter Kim Sung-ryong
The rift within the ruling party over the Kim First Lady’s apology and the ‘Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor’s Bill’ could lead to defections when a re-vote is taken. The Special Prosecutor’s Bill, passed during the plenary session on the 19th, is scheduled to have a resolution on rejecting the right to reconsider at the Cabinet meeting on the 30th. The Democratic Party plans to proceed with a re-vote if the President exercises the right to reject. To pass the re-vote, at least 8 defections from the People Power Party are needed.
The Democratic Party claims that “there will be at least 4 defections” (Kim Yong-min, Democratic Party Chief Deputy on the 27th), digging into the ruling party’s division. Even if the possibility of 8 defections required for failing to pass is not high, just highlighting the defection debate can stimulate internal divisions within the ruling party.
However, within the ruling party, there is a sentiment that “the issue of Kim’s apology and the Special Prosecutor’s Bill are separate matters.” A party official stated, “There is no distinction between the pro-Yoon faction and the pro-Han faction in the opposing stance on the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor’s Bill.” Park Joon-tae, a spokesman for the People Power Party, said in a comment, “The Democratic Party is focusing solely on attacking Mrs. Kim up to establishing a task force for investigating her, but it is a political offensive to create a special prosecutor regime.”
Especially within the ruling party, there is a strong sentiment that “the Democratic Party’s special prosecutor offensive is backlash ahead of the 1st round ruling in the case of Lee Jae-myung in the public office election law case.” Regarding this, a close associate said in a conversation, “Amid the escalation of the Yoon-Han conflict, if there are defections in the Kim First Lady Special Prosecutor’s Bill, it will not be a positive factor for Han Dong-hoon, the party leader.”