Won Hee-ryong "Apology for Park's Impeachment... Will Ensure It Never Happens Again"

On the 16th of last month, Jeon Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju, delivered a policy speech at the 2nd regular session of the 389th Jeju Provincial Council. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] On the 9th, marking the 4th anniversary of the National Assembly's approval of the impeachment motion against former President Park Geun-hye, Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju Province and member of the People Power Party, apologized, saying, "I will ensure that power is never again abused and the Constitution violated."

On that day, Governor Won posted on his Facebook, "I apologize and ask for forgiveness," adding, "I will stake everything and exert all my strength to ensure that such an event never recurs. I will defend constitutional values without regard to political factions and protect democracy without calculating gains and losses."

Governor Won said, "Four years ago today, the National Assembly approved the impeachment motion," and added, "In the four years since, our party has not offered a sincere apology. This means no one has taken full responsibility." He continued, "Meanwhile, constitutional values and democracy have been destroyed and trampled upon by the Moon Jae-in administration," and said, "While people are angry watching a corrupt regime run amok, they first ask what our party thinks about constitutional values and the rule of law. Now is the time to answer."

On the morning of July 7, 2017, former President Park Geun-hye attended a continuation trial held at the Seoul Central District Court. Photo by Yonhap News

He also emphasized, "We must not be divided over the interpretation of the impeachment. We must not consider political gains and losses," adding, "We must not wait until the collapsing Moon Jae-in administration self-destructs." He then questioned, "South Korea is collapsing and the people are becoming unhappy. What meaning does political victory have in a country where the people are unhappy?"

Governor Won said, "No power can stand above the Constitution," and urged, "Please help us become the opposition party that can strictly hold the current power accountable for constitutional violations."

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, who was scheduled to issue a public apology regarding former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye on the same day, met with three-term lawmakers at the National Assembly on the 8th and said, "We will apologize for not meeting the public's expectations due to slow reforms even after our party was impeached," adding, "I will decide on a date that does not burden the party."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.