Daegu: Former President Park Geun-hye called on the ruling People Power Party (PPP) to maintain unity and fulfill its responsibilities despite the challenges posed by the opposition-controlled political landscape. Park's comments came during a meeting with PPP leadership at her residence in the southeastern city of Daegu, where she expressed "deep concern" over the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, as reported by party officials.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the meeting included top PPP members such as Kwon Young-se, chief of the party's emergency steering committee, and Kweon Seong-dong, the party's floor leader. This gathering occurred as the Constitutional Court was preparing to deliver its final ruling on President Yoon's impeachment related to his December 3 martial law attempt. Should the impeachment be upheld, Yoon will be removed from office, necessitating a snap presidential election within 60 days.
Party spokesperson Rep. Shin Dong-uk quoted Park as expressing her concern for President Yoon, who is currently in custody, and her hopes for party unity for the country's future. Park emphasized that despite potential challenges from the opposition, the ruling party must uphold its duties and responsibilities to the public.
Park also voiced her worries over the national division that Yoon's impeachment trial might exacerbate, cautioning against allowing personal convictions to lead to confrontations. She stressed that party leadership and lawmakers should not prioritize personal beliefs over party unity, as doing so could hinder efforts to overcome the current crisis.
Park's call for unity comes from her own experience, having been removed from office in March 2017 after the Constitutional Court upheld her impeachment over an influence-peddling scandal.
In a related development, former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon urged supporters for unity to prevent Lee Jae-myung, chief of the main opposition Democratic Party, from winning the presidential election. Han, who resigned in December following the impeachment motion against Yoon, acknowledged his responsibility for the political situation while emphasizing his efforts to address issues during his leadership despite disagreements with Yoon.