Han Byung-do Says People Power Party Has Turned Into a Far-Right Party

[Financial News] Han Byung-do, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, strongly criticized the People Power Party on the 1st, saying it had "lost its ability to self-correct and turned into a far-right party." His remarks targeted not only the recent controversy over People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-sook's denigration of the May 18 Pro-Democracy Movement, but also the party's efforts to bring former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye back into the political spotlight.
At a floor strategy meeting at the National Assembly that day, Han said, "The lawmaker disparaged May 18 as a riot, pushed ahead with a forum defending Chun Doo-hwan, and then shared a video calling May 18 an uprising, offering the absurd claim that it was 'the most faithful explanation.'"
He added, "Yesterday, the People Power Party's floor leadership visited former President Lee Myung-bak, who was sentenced to 17 years in prison for bribery and embezzlement, to discuss party unity and reform measures. And at the party's retreat ahead of the regular National Assembly session, former President Park Geun-hye, who was removed from office by a unanimous Constitutional Court of Korea ruling, was brought back to the center of politics."
He went on to say, "Some figures in the People Power Party leadership have described Park's impeachment as a political impeachment and are now calling for her reputation to be restored." He argued that "this is a clear and dangerous attempt to show that the People Power Party itself has lost its ability to self-correct and is turning from a mainstream party into a far-right party."
He also said, "In the message of the main opposition party, livelihoods, the national interest and the future have disappeared. In their place are political infighting, party interests and the past, while only incitement aimed at extreme supporters continues to grow." He warned that "if the People Power Party abandons its responsibility as a public party, the damage will ultimately fall on the people."
Han also said, "What guarantee is there that a party that has begun denying May 18 and denying Park Geun-hye's impeachment will not also deny Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment?" He added, "As time passes, I worry they may even rationalize Yoon's insurrection and glorify him as a hero who saved the country."
[email protected] Kim Hyeong-gu Reporter