Kwon Seong-dong delivers a sharp criticism towards Kim Moon-soo, who held a press conference opposing 'forced unification.'
Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, has unleashed a strong critique aimed at Kim Moon-soo, the party’s presidential candidate.
On the 8th, shortly after Kim's emergency press conference, Kwon stated, "He held a press conference to protect his meager position as a presidential candidate," and added, "It's truly pathetic."
Kwon further questioned, "If support for Kim Moon-soo were overwhelming, would Han Deok-soo have emerged?" He emphasized, "The candidacy of Han Deok-soo was brought forth not by the party leadership but by party members and the public."
At a meeting of the emergency response committee held at the National Assembly that morning, Kwon criticized, "Politicians must heed the will of party members, and that is the destiny of a politician," stating, "Candidate Kim is trying to cling to a meager position as a presidential candidate while rejecting the commands of the public and party members."
He continued, "Watching Kim's press conference made me doubt if he truly is a veteran politician of our party who has served three terms as a member of parliament and has been the governor of Gyeonggi Province and the Minister of Labor. It was truly a pathetic display. Politics should not be done for oneself, but rather in the spirit of dedication and service for the nation and the people."
He added, "It was not the party leadership that brought in Candidate Han for the presidential race, but the people and party members," and questioned, "If Candidate Kim's approval ratings were high, would Candidate Han have emerged?"
He also stated, "Candidate Kim clearly stated that he would immediately unify with Candidate Han," expressing, "Refusing the commands of party members is an inappropriate attitude."
Kwon further remarked, "Are you saying the responsibility for bringing forth Candidate Han now lies with the party leadership? If the party leadership had that much power, would they not have run for president or been involved in the presidential election? One must not confuse the public and the party with illogical and absurd arguments."
He urged Kim, "Please demonstrate the dedication, courage, and rationality you had in your youth, and make sure to fulfill the party members' demand for unification."
Earlier that morning, at 8:30 AM, Kim held an emergency press conference at the election camp office in Yeouido, Seoul, proposing to unify through a broadcast debate next Wednesday and public opinion polls on Thursday and Friday.
Kim criticized, "The leadership of the People Power Party seems to have pre-planned this, as they established a campaign committee for an independent candidate who hasn't even registered. Were the candidates in the primary just background figures?"
He continued, "This kind of coercive unification brings no impression or narrative. Unification needs synergy. Let's carry out a campaign for each candidate for synergy and verification. Let's unify after the broadcast debate next Wednesday, and the polls on Thursday and Friday."
Kim also directed his comments towards the party leadership, stating, "From this moment on, cease all attempts to undermine me, Kim Moon-soo, the legitimate presidential candidate, under the guise of forced candidate unification. The ongoing coercive unification is an attempt to forcibly replace the candidate and can lead to legal disputes. Stop immediately."
Image source: Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party / News1, Kwon Seong-dong starts an indefinite hunger strike on the afternoon of the 7th in the rotunda of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, urging Kim Moon-soo, the party’s presidential candidate, to promise unification. 2025.5.8 / News1, Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, speaks after a meeting regarding unification with independent presidential candidate Han Deok-soo at a restaurant in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 7th. (Joint coverage) 2025.5.7 / News1
