Yoon Sang-hyun’s Forum with Attendance from Leadership
“Visited to show support, exchanged greetings, and left
Didn’t expect such discussions to arise”,
Song Eon-seok, the interim chairman and floor leader of the People Power Party, holds a press conference regarding current issues at the National Assembly on the morning of the 16th. Yoon Un-sik, senior reporter [email protected],
, Song Eon-seok, interim chairman and floor leader of the People Power Party, stated on the 16th that discussions at a forum attended by party leadership questioning the invalidity of former President Yoon Seok-yeol’s impeachment and raising election fraud allegations were “not related to the party.” This was an attempt to distance the party after criticisms emerged both inside and outside the party, accusing it of being out of touch with reality due to significant attendance by the leadership at a forum attended by key figures who led protests against Yoon’s impeachment.
During a press briefing at the National Assembly, Song was questioned by reporters on the party’s stance regarding claims of “Yoon again” and election fraud at the forums held consecutively over two days by the People Power Party. In response, he clarified the party’s position.
On the 14th, Song and other party leaders attended the foundational launching ceremony and forum titled “For the Reset of Free Republic Korea,” hosted by Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun. At the event, former history lecturer Jeon Han-gil claimed that the party’s failure to prevent Yoon’s impeachment led to an early presidential election and that the party essentially expelled him, which resulted in losing power. He argued that if the People’s Power Party had stood with Yoon, there would have been no presidential defeat. He also stated that within the party, there had been suggestions to distance from him due to his comments on “correcting election fraud.” Jeon reiterated similar claims at a forum hosted by Rep. Jang Dong-hyuk, hinting at his party leadership candidacy, saying, “Election fraud operates according to a predetermined script, and without changes, conservatives will never gain power.”
Criticisms emerged that even after the presidential defeat, the People’s Power Party had not severed ties with Yoon and was relying on staunch supporters who chant election fraud and “Yoon again.” Former interim chairman Kim Yong-tae expressed his disbelief on Facebook, saying the leadership’s attendance at the “Yoon Seok-yeol Again” event was disappointing. He argued that some members resorted to appeasing hardline supporters as the party convention approached, choosing a temporary path of survival instead of pursuing reforms, which he believes should be about protecting traditional supporters from extremist elements and excluding those who exploit far-right forces for power retention from decision-making processes.
Former People’s Power Party representative Han Dong-hun also criticized the leadership and attendees on Facebook as “irresponsible politicians trying to protect their vested interests by inviting and paving the way for a handful of far-right election fraud conspiracy theorists,” warning that “if delayed further, the People’s Power Party will have no future. It’s essential to decisively cut ties with election fraud conspiracy theories.”
Regarding these criticisms, Song explained, “I learned later that some attendees made statements that did not align with the public’s expectations,” and that “I went to the event thinking it was an ordinary forum or seminar, and with statements from some speakers, misunderstandings arose suggesting the People Power Party was supporting Yoon again or election fraud allegations.”
He justified his attendance by saying, “As floor leader, I see it as my duty to visit and support events attended by senior members of the party, so I went, exchanged greetings, and left quickly.” He added, “Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun likely did not anticipate the kind of remarks that were made by those (including the former lecturer) present at the event.”