Kim Moon-soo, a candidate from the anti-impeachment faction who ran in the People Power Party's 8/22 national convention, said on the 10th regarding former President Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of martial law on 12/3, "Martial law is one of the powers of the president." In contrast, candidate Cho Kyung-tae from the pro-impeachment faction remarked, "Former President Yoon is a timeless traitor."
During the leading discussion at the first broadcast debate for the People Power Party's party leader candidates held at the Channel A studio in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Kim asked Cho, "Wasn't it you who was at the forefront of impeaching former President Yoon? Did you also support the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye?"
In response to Cho saying, "I opposed it back then," Kim remarked, "If you opposed the impeachment of former President Park, then why did you take the lead in the impeachment of former President Yoon?"
Cho stated, "Former President Yoon is a timeless traitor. He is someone who aimed a gun at the people." In response, Kim noted, "While calling the imposition of martial law by former President Yoon a timeless betrayal, why aren't you criticizing the Democratic Party of Korea for allowing North Korea to develop nuclear weapons? Party members have a lot of doubts and concerns about this."
In response, Cho said, "I don't know if you have a lack of literacy, but I will say this: The sovereignty of Korea comes from the people. A person who aims a gun at the owner of that sovereignty is a timeless traitor and a great criminal." He then added, "(Kim) keeps representing like this, making it impossible for our party to shake off the stigma of being a 'rebellious party.'"
To this, Kim replied, "But who has ever aimed a gun? Has anyone been hurt or experienced anything due to the martial law? Martial law, as stated in the constitution, is one of the powers of the president. Can one call a president elected from one's own party a timeless traitor?"
Cho remarked, "Even if the opposition makes it difficult, we must solve it through political power. There are parts that have made our people anxious and degraded national dignity through martial law." He added, "I am really disappointed about where your warm heart and passion as a youth who was involved in the democratization movement went when you were young."