'Court's judgment must be accepted humbly'

'More apology needed over martial law if public wants it'

People Power Party lawmaker Park Hyung-su. [Yonhap]
People Power Party lawmaker Park Hyung-su. [Yonhap]

People Power Party lawmaker Park Hyung-su, who leads the opposition's side on the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, said Thursday that the court's ruling in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's Public Official Election Act case must be respected — and that if the Supreme Court upholds the conviction, the People Power Party must take responsibility for repaying the campaign funds.

Speaking on SBS Radio's "Kim Tae-hyun's Politics Show" that day, Park said the defense team had indicated it would appeal to the Supreme Court, where a final decision would be made. "If there are no particular legal deficiencies at the Supreme Court level, the ruling is likely to be upheld," Park said. "We should accept that humbly."

Yoon was sentenced Wednesday to one year and six months in prison, suspended for three years, in the appellate ruling on his Public Official Election Act violation — the same sentence handed down at trial. If the Supreme Court upholds the ruling, the People Power Party would be required to return approximately 39.7 billion won ($29.6 million) in campaign expense reimbursements it received during the last presidential election.

On the question of repaying those funds, Park said it would be "somewhat absurd" to be drawing up countermeasures at this stage, but added: "If the ruling is finalized and the campaign costs must be returned, the party must take responsibility."

Park also said the trial of President Lee Jae Myung on Public Official Election Act charges should resume. "For the former president, the appellate court has issued its ruling and the question of campaign cost repayment must be considered if the Supreme Court upholds it," Park said. "But for the sitting president, the Supreme Court already remanded the case back to the high court with a finding of guilt, and the trial has been suspended at the appellate level. It is only right and fair that the trial resume."

Asked whether the People Power Party should also apologize for having fielded Yoon as its presidential candidate, Park said the party "has not done well either, and should consider apologizing to the public."

Park added, however, that "it is also impossible for a party to apologize for every act of all its members. The individuals involved must apologize and bear responsibility to the public — that is what I believe is right."

With the second anniversary of the Dec. 3 emergency martial law declaration approaching, Park left open the possibility of a further party-level apology. "It is a clear fact that we were wrong about the Dec. 3 martial law declaration, and we have apologized," Park said. "Going forward, if the public wants it, I think more apology is needed."

On calls for conservative consolidation centered on party leader Jang Dong-hyeok, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, Park said the party should "approach the matter strategically, distinguishing between the general election and the presidential election."

Park said the party should be on Alert for anything that could deepen internal divisions before the general election, while the presidential election phase would require opening the door to broader cooperation. "I cannot say at what point, at what stage, with whom and how we would form an alliance," Park said, "but alliance-building should also be thought about strategically in line with that goal."


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