Kweon urges Yoon to issue public apology and promote unity in impeachment arguments

Kweon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, said on the 25th that he hopes for a public apology regarding the state of emergency and a message of national unity in the final arguments of the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk-yeol. In the afternoon, he plans to visit the Constitutional Court to observe the final arguments of President Yoon.

On the morning of the same day, Kweon, the floor leader, met with reporters at the National Assembly and, in response to the question of what he thought should be included in President Yoon's final arguments, said, “There should be a sincere public apology or honest sentiments regarding the great inconvenience and political instability caused by the proclamation of a state of emergency.”

He also stated, “I believe that there should be a part indicating that the country should not be divided by the impeachment verdict and should be united.” He added, “As for other detailed points, I believe the president should handle them himself.”

He additionally noted that he plans to visit the Constitutional Court in the afternoon to observe the final arguments of President Yoon's impeachment trial. He said, “As a politician who was involved in creating the Yoon Suk-yeol government, I am thinking of attending the final arguments this afternoon.”

Regarding the outlook for the impeachment trial, he said, “Although various forecasts such as acceptance and dismissal are being made as the constitutional judges have not yet started deliberations, I think it is better to wait and see.”

Regarding the release of a recording of the phone call between Myung Tae-kyun, a key figure in the 'allegations of intervention in the nominations,' and Kim Keon-hee, he said, “Myung Tae-kyun is a notorious blusterer,” adding, “I will not comment at all on such transcripts or statements.”

On the morning of that day, it was reported that a bridge collapsed during construction on a highway in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, causing eight casualties, prompting calls for thorough accident recovery.

Kweon, the floor leader, said, “At the party-government meeting last week, I asked the government to conduct thorough on-site inspections, and the government promised that, but I really regret that such an accident has occurred again.” He added, “I hope the government will mobilize all available resources to ensure the recovery from the accident and the rescue of the victims.” He also urged Choi Sang-mok, acting president and Minister of Strategy and Finance, to swiftly appoint a new Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, which is currently vacant.

He dismissed concerns that the plan to provide 1 million won in vouchers per small business owner contradicts the government's and ruling party's commitment to sound finances.

Kweon, the floor leader, emphasized, “While sound finances is the stance adopted by the Yoon Suk-yeol government and our party, finding ways to support and protect vulnerable groups through such vouchers is not contrary to sound financial principles.” He stated, “When we say we will provide living assistance to all citizens or implement budget policies that are populist in nature, that strays from sound financial principles,” stressing that “it is the party's basic position that resources should be used where they are absolutely necessary, even if it causes some budgetary burden.”

Earlier, the People Power Party announced that the day before, it was pushing for a plan to provide vouchers worth 1 million won per person for small business owners to help with utility bills and other expenses. This amounts to 7.6 trillion won if targeted at 7.6 million small businesses nationwide. The funding will be reflected in the supplementary budget. This policy is seen as a counter to the Democratic Party's plan to distribute a '25,000 won living support fund (consumer coupons)' to all citizens. There are also concerns that with the early presidential election approaching, both the ruling and opposition parties have engaged in competitive 'populist support' without a clear plan for securing funding.