Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon on the 19th said, "A court ruled that the martial law Yoon Suk-yeol declared was a clear crime of insurrection defined by the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Korea," and emphasized, "We must now face reality and stop evading it."
In a statement posted on Facebook, the former leader said, "If we had, in line with the Constitution, facts and common sense, faced reality and played a leading role in holding former President Yoon to account, the place where the conservatives and the People Power Party stand today would be very different," adding, "We might have prevented a Democratic Party of Korea administration from taking power, and even if we had not, we could have kept the Democratic Party of Korea administration's runaway in check with cause and strength."
The former leader noted, "Even now, the People Power Party is dominated by a reactionary party establishment that, like a Galápagos island cut off from public sentiment, follows the Yoon Suk-yeol line (defending martial law, opposing impeachment, disputing election results)," adding, "As they purge, one after another, People Power Party politicians who have opposed that line, the party is regressing even more than during the martial law and impeachment."
He went on, "In front of the People Power Party ruled by the Yoon Suk-yeol line stands a large 'fortress wall,' and at that wall, reasonable citizens say, 'I don't think I can go in there,' and turn back," adding, "If this continues, in the short term we cannot avoid defeat in the June local elections, and in the long term conservative politics will be decimated."
The former leader said, "Rebuilding conservatism is not for conservative supporters and conservative politicians, but a prerequisite for the Republic of Korea's progress," adding, "Starting today, we must no longer allow those who have followed the Yoon Suk-yeol line, now condemned for insurrection, to keep leading the main opposition party down a path to ruin."
The former leader said, "If the reasonable majority do not remain silent and act, we can subdue and push them out," adding, "I will stand to the end on the path of rebuilding conservatism and defending the Republic of Korea."