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Candidate Park Min-sik's Past Pro-Yoon Rhetoric Surfaces Amidst Election Campaign

From Hankyoreh · (10m ago) Korean Critical tone

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Park Min-sik, the People Power Party candidate for a by-election, is facing scrutiny over his past actions during the impeachment proceedings against former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
  • Park actively participated in rallies opposing the impeachment, referring to Yoon as 'the eternal president' and questioning the legitimacy of the impeachment process.
  • His past social media posts, where he vehemently defended Yoon and predicted his return to power, have resurfaced, with some suggesting he deleted them to appeal to a broader electorate.

The resurfacing of Park Min-sik's fervent pro-Yoon Suk-yeol statements from the time of his impeachment is a significant development in the lead-up to the Busan Buk-gap by-election. Park, now the People Power Party candidate, finds his past actions as a vocal defender of Yoon, whom he called 'the eternal president,' under intense scrutiny.

As someone who watched closely, President Yoon Suk-yeol's patriotism is truly number one.

โ€” Park Min-sikDescribing Yoon Suk-yeol during an anti-impeachment rally.

During the impeachment period, Park was a prominent figure at anti-impeachment rallies, engaging in overnight protests and passionately arguing against the legitimacy of the process. His social media posts from that era reportedly contained strong declarations of his belief in Yoon's return, even predicting the outcome with remarkable certainty. This unwavering loyalty, while perhaps earning him favor among a certain segment of the electorate, now raises questions about his political adaptability and judgment.

Our eternal president.

โ€” Park Min-sikReferring to Yoon Suk-yeol.

The controversy is compounded by allegations that Park has since deleted these posts. Critics, including figures within the party, suggest this is a strategic move to 'erase the Yoon-again color' and broaden his appeal for the general election. Park's own evasiveness when questioned about the deletions further fuels speculation. As the election approaches, voters will undoubtedly weigh these past actions and the perceived sincerity of his current political stance.

How can a sitting president be a ringleader of rebellion?

โ€” Park Min-sikQuestioning the basis for impeaching Yoon Suk-yeol.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.