In the End, Kim Jong-in's Apology Delayed... Won Hee-ryong Says "No Sincere Apology for 4 Years"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, has decided to postpone his apology regarding two former presidents until after the regular National Assembly session. Although he cited the parliamentary situation, such as the ruling party’s unilateral passage of bills, as the reason, internal party opposition also seems to have played a significant role. The party secretariat labor union and Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju and a presidential candidate from the opposition, have also come out in support of Kim’s apology.

According to the People Power Party, Chairman Kim initially scheduled a public apology for the 9th but postponed it until after the regular National Assembly session. On that day, Kim’s official schedule is blank except for attending an emergency lawmakers’ meeting. December 9th is a symbolic date as it marks the day four years ago in 2016 when the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion against former President Park Geun-hye, and it was considered an appropriate time for an apology.

However, as critical voices within the party grew louder regarding the qualifications for the apology, he appears to have taken a step back. Earlier, he had declared he would stake his position if the apology to the former presidents was not realized, taking a firm stance, but Baek Hyun-jin, the party’s floor spokesperson, strongly criticized him, saying, "It is not threatening enough to be called staking one’s position; it just sounds like an irresponsible transient’s excuse of ‘I am someone who can leave anytime,’ which only invites countless jeers." Some even raised their voices demanding an apology for calling the Moon Jae-in administration a "Gui-tae" (an existence that should not have been born) and for contributing to the rise of the Moon administration.

However, the delay in the apology is only by a day or two, and the willingness to apologize itself has not been broken, so clashes with senior party lawmakers are expected in the future. Meanwhile, voices supporting Kim’s apology are also emerging within the party. Won, considered a leading opposition presidential candidate, emphasized the need for a sincere apology through a Facebook post that morning, saying, "Four years ago today, the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion, but in the following four years, our party did not offer a sincere apology. No one took full responsibility with their whole body."

Won said, "While people are angry watching a corrupt regime run wild, they are first asking what our party thinks about constitutional values and the rule of law. Now is the time to answer. I apologize. I ask for forgiveness. I will ensure that power is never again abused and the constitution violated." He also urged cooperation for the apology, saying, "We must not be divided over the interpretation of the impeachment, nor should we calculate political gains and losses."

The party secretariat labor union also expressed deep gratitude and support for Kim’s plan for a public apology in a statement released the day before, saying, "As workers of the People Power Party secretariat labor union, we deeply appreciate and support Chairman Kim’s plan for a public apology regarding our party’s past mistakes. It is only natural for public servants to apologize and reflect on even minor mistakes to the people, and this is not a matter of faction or personal belief."

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