Is South Korea's PPP Candidate Kim Moon-soo Apologizing for the Martial Law Aftermath?

Seoul, May 13 (NationPress) People Power Party (PPP) candidate Kim Moon-soo expressed his regret for the hardships faced by the public due to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's attempt at martial law on December 3, as he initiated his campaign for the upcoming June 3 presidential election.

This statement marked Kim's inaugural public acknowledgment of the turmoil that ultimately led to Yoon's ousting from his position within the same party. This week, Kim solidified his candidacy for the conservative party following days of internal discord regarding a potential merger with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, as reported by Yonhap news agency.

In an interview with cable news channel Channel A, Kim stated, “I sincerely apologise to the people who have suffered from the martial law imposition.”

He added, “The public has had a difficult time since the martial law attempt. The economy and domestic politics are in difficulty, and so are exports and diplomacy.”

Kim firmly stated that he would not have supported the imposition of martial law, emphasizing, “Democracy is built on dialogue, compromise, and patience, not martial law.”

The response from the PPP presidential candidate regarding the failed martial law initiative has garnered significant attention ahead of the election next month.

After a campaign rally in Daegu, Kim mentioned that he would consult with his campaign team about how and to what degree he should address the incident.

However, he stressed that Yoon was forced into an extreme position due to the Democratic Party (DP)'s persistent efforts to obstruct his policy agenda using their parliamentary majority.

Having obtained the nomination from the PPP, Kim is set to compete against DP candidate Lee Jae-myung, who is currently leading in the polls.

Kim, a former labor minister, visited Garak Market early in the morning to meet vendors dealing in wholesale agricultural and fisheries products, highlighting his focus on economic and livelihood matters.

Kim, clad in a red jumper, told reporters, “I think I should be a president who makes South Korea a better place to live.”

When questioned about the recent intraparty conflicts surrounding a unified candidacy with Han, Kim remarked that the discord ultimately fostered “stronger unity” within the conservative party.

Describing the race as “very dynamic,” Kim expressed confidence in his ability to close the gap with the DP's Lee.

According to a recent Realmeter poll released on Sunday, Lee received 52.1 percent support compared to Kim's 31.1 percent in a hypothetical three-way race that also included Lee Jun-seok from the minor New Reform Party.

With the election approaching in less than a month, Kim outlined key campaign promises aimed at reducing business regulations and corporate taxes to create a more business-friendly environment.

If elected, Kim pledged to advocate for an early summit with US President Donald Trump to negotiate a trade agreement that would alleviate extensive tariffs.

He also introduced support initiatives for the artificial intelligence sector aimed at nurturing 200,000 young professionals in this field and establishing a private-public fund worth 100 trillion won (approximately $71.2 billion) by attracting foreign investment.

On security matters, Kim committed to developing nuclear-powered submarines to counter threats from Pyongyang and to pursue unification with North Korea to alleviate the suffering of its people from hunger and oppression.

“Progressivism should bring prosperity, not poverty. I want to tear apart fake progressivism,” Kim declared.

Later that day, Kim was scheduled to visit a national cemetery in Daejeon to pay tribute to veterans who sacrificed their lives defending South Korea against provocations from North Korea in the heavily monitored western sea.