Yoon Heesook Offers Sincere Apology for Yoon Sukyeol's Martial Law... "Politics Aligned with Power Led to Tragic Outcome"

Apology to the Public in People Power Party's Policy Speech
"The Next President Should Renounce Party Affiliation on the First Day and Form a National Unity Cabinet"

Yoon Heesook, Director of the Yeouido Institute, who is in charge of the People Power Party's think tank, apologized on April 24 regarding former President Yoon Sukyeol's declaration of martial law. She also delivered a pointed criticism of the former president's remarks after his retirement.

Through a policy speech for the People Power Party, Director Yoon apologized for the party's failure to prevent former President Yoon's declaration of martial law. She stated, "Over the past four years, politics has only gotten worse," and added, "The conduct of the People Power Party has also been so shameful that we cannot face the people."

Director Yoon particularly pointed out issues in the relationship between the party and the administration. She said, "In an effort to appease the president, two party leaders were forcibly removed, and dozens of lawmakers even circulated a petition to suppress a candidate running in the party leadership election." She continued, "Politics that either followed such moves or failed to stop them?that is, politics that aligns itself with power?ultimately led to disastrous outcomes such as martial law." This is interpreted as meaning that the vertical, hierarchical relationship between the party and the administration?evidenced by the forced resignations of figures such as Lee Junseok, the Reform New Party presidential candidate (former People Power Party leader), and Kim Giheon, former People Power Party leader, at the will of former President Yoon?was one of the causes that led to the declaration of martial law.

Yoon Heesook, Director of Yeouido Institute of the People Power Party. Photo by Yoon Dongju doso7@

She went on to say, "Because the party was weak, the president likely did not notify the party in advance about the martial law plan," and explained, "Had we known, many within the party would have rushed to Yongsan to stop it at all costs."

She also criticized former President Yoon's remarks after his retirement. She said, "Not long ago, the president, who was dismissed and returned to his private residence, said, 'I returned victorious,'" and then rebuked, "I do not know what he thinks he won, but all that remains in the party is deep despair and the people's indifference."

Director Yoon expressed her understanding of the public's political disillusionment and argued that now is the time to pursue reform. She emphasized, "Nations that have confronted their problems head-on and made decisive reforms have always risen again."

Regarding the 6·3 presidential election, she stated, "The new leader of the Republic of Korea, who will be elected in June, must lay the groundwork so that politics can finally begin to meet the standards of the people, moving beyond endless political strife, and so that the Korean economy can take another leap forward."

She proposed that the next president should renounce party affiliation on the first day in office and pursue constitutional amendment as a three-year president to rectify the abnormal crisis. She also suggested the formation of a national unity cabinet. She said, "We must ensure that the people feel reassured by seeing the beginning of politics based on cooperation, not factional conquest politics aimed at winner-takes-all."

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