Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party presidential candidate, commented on speculation that former President Yoon Seok-yeol may voluntarily resign from the party as early as this week, saying, "I have not heard such discussions," while adding, "The president will make a sound judgment" on the 14th.
Kim met with aerospace industry officials at the Aviation Administration in Sacheon, Gyeongnam, on the morning of that day and spoke to reporters afterward.
Kim further stated, "I think it is right to respect the president's judgment," adding, "I have not heard anything about what will be done."
Earlier, Kim remarked on the calls within the party for Yoon to be expelled, saying, "Whether he resigns or not is his own decision," and noted, "The party also bears responsibility." This implies that the party cannot artificially expel him, considering its responsibility for the 12·3 martial law situation and the subsequent impeachment of former President Yoon. However, Kim Yong-tae, the joint election management committee chairperson appointed as emergency countermeasures chair, previously announced he would clarify his stance on establishing a relationship with former President Yoon as soon as the 15th.
In political circles, figures close to Yoon, including lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun, are persuading the former president to voluntarily resign. There are predictions that former President Yoon will make a decision on this matter before the presidential candidate TV debate on the 18th at the latest. Cho Won-jin, the People's Party representative, mentioned on YTN Radio that he had heard, "People close to former President Yoon are trying to persuade him," and added, "It is not appropriate for the party to pressure him to leave."
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate, has been concurrently conducting campaign activities centered around the TK (Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province) and PK (Busan and South Gyeongsang Province) regions for two consecutive days, leading to an analysis that competition for voter support in the Yeongnam region is intensifying. He only provided a general response, stating, "Since our country is not that large, there will often be overlaps while campaigning."
He continued, "Candidate Lee claims that the country's crisis is because of us. Of course, we also bear some responsibility, but we need to consider whether he believes he is the epicenter of the crisis." He also criticized the Democratic Party's decision to push forward with the confirmation hearing for Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae, stating, "Isn't it problematic for candidate Lee to view everything through his own perspective and exercise power? This is very far from democracy."
Regarding the revived political topic of abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which was promised by Lee Jun-seok, the Reform Party candidate, he stated, "It's not that we have to abolish it, nor that we should unconditionally expand it; a responsible government needs to skillfully expand its role concerning family, a little differently from the Ministry of Health and Welfare."
He then added, "The department called the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family should generate a very high level of social consensus and come up with new measures that include women, families, children, and adolescents."
He also noted, "Women's rights need to be enhanced further," adding, "For example, it is necessary to ensure that women can freely and safely walk through dark alleys at night without any fear of violence. There are still disadvantages regarding the work-life balance concerning childcare and housework due to childbirth for women."