First public message after impeachment… A direct request to Han Duck-soo to 'join together'

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol publicly supported Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party candidate returning as a presidential contender on the 11th, stating, “We must win, and we can win.” This message was issued right after the potential candidate change to former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was abandoned the previous day, which is interpreted as an implicit declaration of election support.

In a post titled “An appeal to the public” on his Facebook, the former president emphasized, “Despite the fierce debates and pains in this primary, the People Power Party has proven to still be a healthy party” and “Our opposing side is strong. We must win this election.”

This is the first time he has publicly issued a message since stating his position through legal representatives immediately after the Constitutional Court's decision for impeachment on the 4th of last month.

Yoon Suk-yeol extends a hand to Han Duck-soo… "I trust you will walk this path to the end"

The former president stated, “At this moment when candidate Kim Moon-soo has been elected as the final candidate, I sincerely pay my respects to all the other candidates who competed with him.” He continued, “The mission of ‘liberal democracy and national prosperity’ emphasized by former Prime Minister Han when he announced his candidacy is now a task that must continue with Candidate Kim,” expressing his belief that “I trust former Prime Minister Han will walk this path to the end.”

This can be interpreted as a public request for Han Duck-soo to accept the position of chair of the election campaign committee, requested by Kim.

Former President Yoon also earnestly appealed to all citizens who supported other candidates: “Now, I ask you to unite your hearts,” and emphasized, “Those who supported Candidate Kim should humbly embrace this process and hold each other's hands.”

“I will stand with you to the end… This election is a crossroads for the system”

The former president mentioned the impeachment and the illegal martial law investigation against him. He stated, “Although I was caught in the fierce political storm of impeachment, I never blamed the party even once,” and added, “Although I could not complete my term, my heart still lies with the country, the party, and the people.”

He went on to say, “This 6·3 presidential election is not merely about a change in government but a crossroads for whether we can protect the system of free South Korea or let it collapse,” and claimed, “The 'politics that uphold principles' presented by Candidate Kim reveals the essence of liberal democracy, which is fundamentally different from the totalitarian behavior of the opposition parties.”

Finally, the former president urged, “Dear citizens, especially the youth who love freedom, please join together once more” and asked, “Please recall the courage and conviction we had last winter, which kept us from collapsing.” He concluded with, “I, Yoon Suk-yeol, will stand with you to the end” and “We will surely win.”

No mention of the 12·3 martial law proclamation that sparked this situation

In this message, the former president did not mention any apologies or reflections regarding the 12·3 martial law proclamation and impeachment situation. However, he emphasized liberal democracy and attempted to unite his support base by clearly defining both the former ruling and opposition parties as "totalitarian forces."

It is extremely rare for a former president currently under investigation for treason to directly enter the election race. Amidst political uncertainty due to ongoing investigations and trials, attention is drawn to the impact of former President Yoon's emergence on the dynamics of the presidential election.

Image sources: Kim Moon-soo presidential candidate / News1, News1, facebook 'Yoon Suk-yeol', former President Yoon Suk-yeol / News1