After Kim Jong-in's Apology Fallout... Opposition Party Faces 'Impeachment Quagmire'

Conflict within the People Power Party... "Kim sparked division as a pretext"
Criticism such as 'Prakchi' on the website bulletin board
Lee Jae-oh: "Personal political ambition"... Kwon Seong-dong: "Appropriate public apology"

Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is making a public apology at the National Assembly on the 15th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The backlash within the party following Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, issuing a public apology is intensifying. Kim's apology for the mistakes of former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye was a move aimed at embracing the moderate voters to secure victories in the upcoming Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections next year. However, internal conflicts over past issues have reignited, plunging the party into what can be described as a 'quagmire of impeachment.'

A senior member of the People Power Party told Asia Economy on the 16th, "The pretext for division was raised by Chairman Kim," adding, "It might be a winning card for the by-election if Kim does not come to Busan." He criticized, "He is trying to create momentum for his shaky leadership by dividing people into reformists if they agree with his apology and anti-reformists if they oppose it. Our core party members are strongly opposed. He must take responsibility," he said sharply.

Criticism against Chairman Kim is pouring in on the People Power Party's official website bulletin board. Most of the comments include insults such as 'Moon Jae-in spy,' 'demented old man,' and 'trash.' The impeachment issue, which had subsided after the crushing defeat in the last general election, is erupting again within the party due to Kim's apology. Although Chairman Kim tried to minimize internal backlash by sharing the draft apology with Joo Ho-young, the party floor leader, it seems to have been insufficient. Previously, opponents argued that there was no need to self-stigmatize and that the timing was inappropriate ahead of the election.

Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is making a public apology at the National Assembly on the 15th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Voices of opposition have emerged publicly both inside and outside the party. In particular, disgruntled voices from the former pro-Lee Myung-bak (Chin-i) and pro-Park Geun-hye (Chin-bak) factions have surfaced. Lee Jae-oh, the senior advisor of the People Power Party and former leader of the pro-Lee faction, wrote on Facebook on the 15th, "If you are a politician in the opposition party, you should say that the two former presidents should be released for national unity," and criticized, "Chairman Kim's apology is nothing but a deception disguised as personal political ambition." Jeong Dong-gi, a lawyer who served as the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Blue House during the Lee Myung-bak administration, submitted his resignation from the party.

Seo Byung-soo, a member of the People Power Party considered an original pro-Park faction member, said, "What are you trying to do by redefining them as having colluded with specific companies to gain unfair profits, facilitated succession processes, and monopolized power?" He added, "If Chairman Kim has anything to apologize for, it is failing to block the ruling party's legislative terrorism." Hong Joon-pyo, former leader of the Liberty Korea Party, pointed out, "This apology lacks representation and is an unexpected apology," adding, "I have never seen such an ungrateful opposition party."

On the other hand, Kwon Seong-dong, a People Power Party lawmaker, said on MBC radio on the 16th, "We lost power due to our mistakes and have continued to be defeated in elections since then. The public apology was appropriate," and assessed, "The internal opposition is very small." Kim Ki-hyun, another People Power Party lawmaker, also appeared on KBS radio and said, "Overall, in terms of content and timing, it is positive."

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