<Former Senator Kim Sung-tae of the People Power Party>
– Continuous confusion with successive resignations in the party leadership, lacking resources to lead the party
– The ruling party must take unlimited responsibility, but instead, it’s the opposite
– Presidential aides should persuade Yoon to be self-aware, while the ruling camp seeks to stabilize the political situation
<Former Senator Kim Yong-nam of the Reform Party>
– Hannara (Korean National Party) was chased out, performed well the night of the 3rd, but wavered from the next day
– Different situation from ‘Park’s coup,’ took a long time for duties to be suspended
– Will Yoon change?, Anxiety among foreigners who were returning is growing
<Former Lawmaker Kim Jong-dae of the Justice Party>
– The ruling party always lacks personalities, unable to produce figures since 2017
– The process of ousting Han Dong-hoon was almost madness, how much more catastrophe is desired
– Diplomatic and economic damages are increasing, the ruling party shows no sense of responsibility,
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* The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content. For more accurate information, please refer to the broadcast.
■ Program: News High Kick with Kwon Soon-pyo (MBC Radio Standard FM 95.9Mhz / Weekdays 6:05 PM~8:00 PM)
■ Guests: Former Senator Kim Sung-tae of the People Power Party, Former Senator Kim Yong-nam of the Reform Party, Former Lawmaker Kim Jong-dae of the Justice Party
◎ Host > [Political Gourmet] Today, we have three guests to join us. Welcome, former Senator Kim Sung-tae of the People Power Party. Welcome, former Senator Kim Yong-nam of the Reform Party. Welcome, former Lawmaker Kim Jong-dae of the Justice Party. It’s been two weeks since we last met. A lot has happened in that time. Where should we start? Shall we talk about the fate of representative Han Dong-hoon first? What do you think, Mr. Kim?
◎ Kim Sung-tae > Representative Han Dong-hoon had a bitter exit. As a politician, after 146 days, he resigned as the party leader. Since President Yoon Seok-yeol took office, the leadership of our party has changed practically 11 times.
◎ Host > Is it 11 times?
◎ Kim Sung-tae > Starting with Lee Jun-seok as party chairman, even before Han Dong-hoon, there were interim committees and various changes. I’ve pondered a lot about why our party went through such chaos. President Yoon Seok-yeol declared martial law, taking away people’s daily lives. With the judgment of 300 members of the National Assembly, a constitutional institution of representative democracy, the president’s duties were suspended and impeachment proceedings were initiated. The conclusion of the proceedings will be finalized at the Constitutional Court. President Yoon Seok-yeol has been impeached by the National Assembly with charges of rebellion and abuse of power. The aftermath hit the People Power Party hardest.
◎ Host > That’s right.
◎ Kim Sung-tae > There’s almost no resource anymore. We lack resources to lead the party, which is why there’s no easy solution on who should be brought in as the interim leader to transform the People Power Party and restore its image as a ruling party.
◎ Kim Yong-nam > Exactly two weeks ago, we finished the broadcast, and that night martial law was declared.
◎ Host > That’s right.
◎ Kim Yong-nam > On December 3rd, Representative Han did well the night martial law was declared by immediately opposing it as an illegal and unconstitutional act. He made a swift and accurate judgment. However, from the next day, his stance changed daily. The highlight was the joint statement with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on December 8th, announcing co-management of state affairs with the prime minister, which had no constitutional basis. How could a person who recently served as the Minister of Justice say that? It raises fundamental questions about his competence, making it harder for him to reclaim his position after being virtually ousted.
◎ Host > Can he make a comeback, in your opinion?
◎ Kim Yong-nam > In the current situation, it seems difficult, but Han Dong-hoon has one advantage.
◎ Host > What is it?
◎ Kim Yong-nam > The People Power Party lacks people altogether. It’s an advantage for him because there are simply no candidates.
◎ Host > Some might say there are indeed people.
◎ Kim Yong-nam > That’s what they believe.
◎ Host > They might think so, but there are those who argue there are no people. What do you think, Mr. Kim Jong-dae?
◎ Kim Jong-dae > It may seem like a side note, but even when Yoon Seok-yeol, the former prosecutor general, was about to join, there were no people in the People Power Party. It’s always been a talent scarcity. The inability to self-reproduce competent figures has been an issue since at least the 2017 presidential election. The party cannot produce new figures after former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye. Almost all potential candidates with double-digit popularity ratings are nonexistent. In such a condition, Han Dong-hoon only polls in the low double-digits. During the process of expelling Han Dong-hoon, the party showed a nearly frenzied approach. The responsibility of the ruling party does not have the dignity of ruling; rather, it’s fierce opposition against Han and defending Yoon Seok-yeol, it’s as if they desire an even worse situation.
◎ Host > The ruling party is unable to provide alternatives, Mr. Kim Sung-tae.
◎ Kim Sung-tae > I’ve presented such views within the party, but realistically, the country faced serious chaos and a crisis when the president declared martial law on 12.3. If there was bloodshed, it would have been a major disaster for Korean democracy and national stability. The ultimate victim is the public. The party must accept unlimited responsibility. Though the actions were undertaken by President Yoon Seok-yeol, they proceeded without any consultation with the party or even his key aides, including the presidential chief of staff. It’s absurd. However, the ruling party missed an opportunity for orderly change.
◎ Host > Those are past stories now.
◎ Kim Sung-tae > I regret that the party could not voice their support for President Yoon’s early exit. Han Dong-hoon represents part of the president’s close group. These people failed to promote an orderly exit to the president.
◎ Kim Yong-nam > It’s difficult to agree with that. It’s entirely different from the Park Geun-hye era. Back then, it involved scandals like multi-level shopping and corruption, whereas now, we’re dealing with rebellion charges against a current president. Orderly resignation isn’t possible here. It’s too late for reassignment of officials from the Blue House after a martial law declaration. Delaying action on the president’s suspension was against the interest.
◎ Kim Sung-tae > That’s what I mean: minimization of national chaos and political stability should be prioritized, and rapid response, unlike Park Geun-hye. Then, Yoon Seok-yeol continues battling investigations against charges related to martial law. What has to be done by people close to him is to facilitate understanding and responsibility acceptance. Beyond the political asides and attacks, we need practical focus on long-term reconciliation.
◎ Host > I’ll ask: given the president’s behavior, is it possible to influence through persuasion? Isn’t that why martial law happened in the first place? What should these leaders do instead?
◎ Kim Sung-tae > The ruling party did its part trying to avoid Yong Seok-yeol’s impeachment, but his wrongs must be deeply acknowledged and rectified. Our stance was responsible and supportive of national interest – prioritizing public interest over political gains – but it failed to foster immediate, strategic changes in the president’s approach.
◎ Kim Jong-dae > The friction over appointing constitutional judges marks further conflict. It’s apparent that People Power Party tactics aim to delay the Constitutional Court’s deliberation. Such prolonged chaos is foreseen. Without expediting this process, national stability is indefinitely postponed.
◎ Host > Precisely. Recent downturns in the stock market and foreign investments are worrying, reflecting concerns over constitutional uncertainties and economic instability amidst this political unrest.
◎ Kim Jong-dae > The current political stalemate, including martial law enactment and resistance, prevents progress. We must resolve these issues for recovery and progression. The ruling party, its loyalists, and detractors must labor to facilitate clarity and ensure national re-stabilization.
◎ Kim Sung-tae > The People Power Party must transform to meet national expectations. The priority should be minimizing national instability and moving toward systemic recovery. Without consistent action from within, this ongoing disorder only deepens the political divide.
◎ Host > How should the ruling party change? Following a clear repudiation of rebellion-supportive actions, that seems to be how to maintain national stability?
◎ Kim Jong-dae > Refusal to cooperate on constitutional judges and legislative actions exacerbates division. The People Power Party exhibits minimal accountability and provision of solutions. In this context, timely conclusion to proceedings and accountability is paramount. Anything outside this basics delays necessary recovery and stability.
◎ Host > Mr. Kim Jong-dae, you mentioned the need for meticulous resolution, but how should direct actions by the ruling party be orchestrated effectively for this national stabilization? How should People’s Power Party implement practical reforms to reinforce public trust?
◎ Kim Jong-dae > Collaborating towards swift finalization of constitutional deliberations and legal responsibilities stands obligatory. This national peril should not be prolonged, being essential focus leading up towards extensive societal lawful stability and acknowledgment of recent failures.