Yoon Sang-hyun Criticizes Party's Identity Shift Amidst Controversy
On June 1, Kim Yong-tae, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, announced his intention to nullify the party's stance against the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. In response, Yoon Sang-hyun, co-chair of the party's election committee, expressed strong opposition, stating that such a move would undermine the party's identity and lead to confusion and division.
Kim's statement on Facebook emphasized that the party's position should align with universal values outlined in its constitution and that decisions made by the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court are irreversible grounds for determining party policy. He argued that the party's previous stance against the impeachment should be invalidated based on the outcomes of the impeachment trial. He also mentioned plans to formalize this nullification through a general assembly and committee meeting.
In a counter-response on June 2, Yoon stated on Facebook that even if the nullification is seen as a necessary strategy for electoral success, it should not cross the line of the party's roots and identity. He expressed regret over the situation, asserting that the anti-impeachment stance was not merely a shield for Yoon but a crucial defense of South Korea's constitutional order and liberal democracy.
Yoon emphasized that the decision to oppose the impeachment was made after careful consideration by party members, rooted in the values of responsibility as a conservative party and a commitment to protecting the democratic system. He criticized the unilateral declaration of nullification by the committee chairman without internal discussion, calling it a self-denial that threatens the party's identity and fosters chaos and division.
However, it is important to note that Kim did not officially declare the nullification of the party's stance; he indicated that procedural steps would be taken to achieve this. Yoon further stated that the emergency committee should focus on resolving the party's crisis and fostering unity around core values. He warned that abandoning the party's identity for electoral gains could jeopardize its very foundation.
He concluded by urging the party to present a principled and honorable path to the public, emphasizing that the values of liberal democracy and the rule of law must always be at the forefront. Yoon called for responsible leadership and a dignified approach, asserting that self-denial within the party is the most dangerous form of division, as a tree will fall if its roots are shaken.
