On March 9, the People Power Party said it clearly opposes any calls for the political return of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
After a meeting of party lawmakers, Floor Leader Song Eon-seok read the resolution, beginning, "Dear citizens, all members of the People Power Party in the National Assembly resolve as follows."
The resolution offered a renewed apology to the public for the significant confusion and disappointment caused by the erroneous Dec. 3 declaration of emergency martial law.
It went on to state, "Second, we clearly oppose any and all demands for the political return of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Neither South Korea nor the People Power Party can return to the past." The text added, "We will renew ourselves and, together with the people, resolutely move forward into the future."
The party pledged, "Third, we will halt actions and statements that exacerbate conflicts among party members and will pursue broad unity. We will cut off any words or deeds that disrupt our ranks or tether the party to outdated frames. We will focus solely on the public and consolidate all our capabilities."
The People Power Party said restoring normal governance depends on constitutional checks and balances rooted in political equilibrium between the ruling and opposition parties. It pledged to unite with all citizens committed to defending liberal democracy, preserving judicial integrity, and upholding constitutional values in resisting what it described as the Lee Jae-myung administration's unconstitutional overreach.
It added, "We will rally all citizens who care for and love the country and fight resolutely to defend South Korea's constitutional values and citizens' freedoms. We will secure victory in the upcoming June 3 local elections."
Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk and other People Power Party lawmakers stood together during the reading of the resolution. However, Jang did not read the resolution himself.
Chief spokesperson Park Seong-hoon said Jang "respects the collective will of the lawmakers."
[Full text of the resolution]
Resolved as follows
First, we again apologize to the people with sincere regret for the significant confusion and disappointment caused by the erroneous Dec. 3 declaration of emergency martial law.
Second, we clearly oppose any and all demands for the political return of Yoon Suk Yeol. Neither South Korea nor the People Power Party can revert to the past. The People Power Party will renew itself and, together with the people, resolutely move forward into the future.
Third, we will stop actions and statements that amplify conflicts among party members and pursue broad unity. We will end any words or deeds that disrupt the party's cohesion or bind the party to past frames. We will focus exclusively on the public and unite all our capacities. Restoring normal governance can only begin from the constitutional principle of checks and balances founded on political equilibrium between the ruling party and the opposition. To respond to what it called the Lee Jae-myung administration's unconstitutional overreach, the People Power Party will join with all citizens who agree to defend liberal democracy, prevent the dismantling of judicial integrity, and respect constitutional values. We will rally all citizens who care for and love the country and fight resolutely to protect South Korea's constitutional values and citizens' freedoms. We will thereby secure victory in the upcoming June 3 local elections.
