Hwang Kyo-an: "President Moon Must Grant Pardons Quickly to Avoid Hardships Like MB and Park"

"Don't Know the Basis for Phasing Out Nuclear Power"
"Not Swayed by Approval Ratings"

Former Hwang Kyo-ahn, former leader of the United Future Party (currently People Power Party). [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Hwang Kyo-ahn, former leader of the Future United Party (now the People Power Party), who declared his presidential bid, emphasized on the 27th that President Moon Jae-in should "pardon quickly to avoid the hardships experienced by the two former presidents (Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye) and move toward national unity."

In an interview with Yonhap News Agency on the same day, Hwang responded to a question about the 'Liberation Day pardon theory' regarding former President Park Geun-hye by saying, "I think it is too late. The imprisonment of former presidents is also a bad message to the international community."

When asked if he thought President Moon was likely to suffer hardships as well, he replied, "He himself knows best," adding, "He should correct the wrong policies even now."

Hwang also pointed to the Moon administration's 'nuclear phase-out' policy as its biggest mistake. He criticized, "Power security is shaken, future economy and jobs that could be utilized are being taken away, so I don't understand the basis for wanting to phase out nuclear power."

He continued, "We will file a class-action lawsuit with the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) shareholders, who are the biggest victims of the nuclear phase-out, to create a way to provide some consolation to the suffering people."

Hwang mentioned 'gyeolja-haeji (結者解之)' as the reason for running in the presidential election. He said, "From 2019 to last year, we achieved unification and became the 'gyeolja (binder).' However, we failed to achieve 'haeji (unbinder),' which is regime change. I have started moving again with the thought that I must fulfill my responsibility for regime change." 'Gyeolja-haeji' is a four-character idiom meaning "the one who ties the knot must untie it," metaphorically indicating that the person who caused a problem must solve it.

He added, "Politics is not just about having the mission and will to save the Republic of Korea. Political experience and strategy are necessary," and said, "I do not get swayed by poll ratings. The person who reaches the finish line of next year's presidential election first without stumbling wins."

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