"Public Election Law and North Korean Remittance Trial, Must Show Will to Attend Rather than Evade"

Kim Yong-tae, the Emergency Response Committee Chair of the People Power Party, urged President Lee Jae-myung on the 8th to "clearly state before the public whether he has the will to undergo the two upcoming trials."

During a press conference at the National Assembly, Kim asked, "Will you sincerely participate in the trial regarding allegations of violating the Public Election Law scheduled for the 18th and the trial concerning illegal remittances to North Korea set for July? Please state your position publicly."

He added, "The Democratic Party of Korea must also clearly respond to whether the so-called 'presidential bulletproof three laws'—the amendment to the Public Election Law to remove the act requirement for the crime of false fact announcement, the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act that suspends criminal trials upon presidential election, and the amendment to the Court Organization Act related to increasing the number of Supreme Court justices—are aimed at a specific individual or not."

Kim stated, "These two questions I pose embody the spirit of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea," and emphasized, "The President and the Democratic Party must provide clear answers to the sovereign public."

"Push for September Party Convention… Will Also Nullify Opposition to Impeachment"

In the same press conference, Kim announced a second party reform plan and proposed a direction for organizational restructuring to improve the party's conservative characteristics.

He said, "Conducting the local elections next year under an elected party representative system rather than a non-elected emergency committee system is crucial for the restoration of conservatism," and added, "We will begin preparations within the party to hold a convention by early September."

Regarding the contentious issue of the impeachment of former President Yoon Seok-youl, which has been a central conflict within the party, he declared, "We will push to nullify the party's position opposing impeachment to resolve factional conflicts." He continued, stating, "We will refer individuals within the party who defend the 12/3 state of emergency to the ethics committee."

"Candidate Replacement Controversy and Party Audit… Nominations Will Be Exceptions-Free and Bottom-Up"

Kim also addressed the controversy over attempts to replace candidates, specifically the former candidate Kim Moon-soo and former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, stating, "We will thoroughly investigate the facts and hold accountable through party audit authority."

He emphasized regarding the upcoming local elections, "The selection of candidates for local and basic government heads will be conducted through a 100% bottom-up nomination process without exceptions." He asserted, "Returning nomination rights entirely to party members and voters is the way to prevent a second state of emergency and a second Yoon Seok-youl crisis."

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