"If the President Seeks to Control the Party, Democracy Falters"...Kim Moonsoo's Critique of Yoon? [This Remark Shakes the Presidential Race]

Emphasizing Party-Government Reform Nine Days Before the Presidential Election
Proposing an End to Nomination Interference and Three Key Principles
Acknowledging the Limits of Institutional Reform

Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, has called for a fundamental overhaul of the relationship between the ruling party and the president, commonly referred to as the party-government relationship. While he did not explicitly mention former President Yoon Sukyeol's involvement in party affairs, Kim attributed the root cause of the early 6·3 presidential election to a flawed party-government relationship.

On this day, in a statement on current issues delivered in front of the birthplace of Lady Yuk Youngsoo in Okcheon County, Chungbuk, Kim emphasized, "The moment the president decides to take control of the party, democracy begins to falter," and stressed, "It is now necessary to make a decisive break from these wrongful practices."

In particular, regarding presidential intervention in candidate nominations, Kim promised reforms, stating that such actions "undermine the party's autonomy and democracy, encourage the personalization of the party around the president, and have been a source of internal conflict." Advocating for a "healthy party-government relationship," Kim proposed an institutional solution by suggesting the inclusion of three main principles?party-government cooperation, separation of party and government leadership, and the prohibition of factions?into the party constitution. Kim explained, "I have requested Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Yongtae to convene a National Committee meeting for the immediate amendment of the party constitution."

Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, is making a statement on current issues in front of the press after visiting the birthplace of Lady Yuk Youngsoo in Okcheon County, Chungbuk on the 25th. Photo by Yonhap News

As Kim began pushing for party-government relationship reforms and encouraging early voting, signs of change began to emerge. Han Donghoon, former People Power Party leader, who had previously worn campaign attire bearing only the party's name, started wearing campaign clothing featuring "Kim Moonsoo's" name.

However, there are still doubts about the possibility of severing ties with former President Yoon and achieving institutional reform. When asked by reporters whether his reform proposal was intended as a reflection on former President Yoon Sukyeol's involvement in party affairs, Kim avoided making any specific comments.

Kim rhetorically asked, "Even if it is written in the party constitution as interference in party affairs, is it actually observed?" and answered himself, "In many cases, it is not." This revealed that there may be limitations to his proposed solutions alone. Nevertheless, Kim added, "I hope that the party constitution will continue to change so that more courageous and capable people can work to protect the Republic of Korea and uphold democracy."

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