Park Hyung-jun "Moon Must Convince Supporters Opposing Presidential Pardon"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Park Hyung-jun, the preliminary candidate for mayor of Busan from the People Power Party, demanded that the president persuade opposing supporters and work towards national unity, saying, "The pardon of former presidents depends on President Moon Jae-in's decision."

On the 11th, Park appeared on BBS Radio's 'Park Kyung-soo's Morning Journal' and said, "If the president, despite opposition from his supporters, persuades them and steadily walks the path toward national unity, that is exactly what will receive applause from all the people."

He added, "Ultimately, this issue is one that the president must decide," and said, "If the national policy direction this year is focused on national unity, I only hope that the president and ruling party leaders become true leaders who guide their supporters, not followers of their supporters."

Park emphasized, "The power of pardon should prioritize political considerations of national unity over other factors," and said, "It seems like a kind of 'backdown' because of supporters' backlash, but that is undesirable."

Regarding the by-elections in April next year, he stressed that the moderate conservatives should unite into a single party. Park said, "If the Seoul mayoral election looks bleak, the Busan election will also be at risk, and since it is a stepping stone election for the next presidential election, a candidate who can definitely win must be nominated," adding, "If the opposition is divided and fields multiple candidates, victory cannot be guaranteed."

He said, "Whether the first stage is a one-shot primary or the second stage involves unification negotiations remains to be seen, but unification will happen anyway," and added, "It is desirable for this moderate conservative force to unite into a single integrated party."

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