S. Korea: Ex-President Yoon announces departure from PPP, urges support for party candidate Kim
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday announced his departure from the People Power Party (PPP), urging the public to support the party's presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo, Yonhap reports.
In a post on his Facebook account, Yoon said, "I am leaving the People Power Party today," adding, "Although I am leaving the party, I will continue to stand at the forefront to defend freedom and national sovereignty."
He also called on voters to unite behind Kim, emphasizing the importance of participating in the upcoming election.
"Please give your support to Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party. Make sure to cast your vote. Every single vote is a path toward safeguarding this country's freedom, sovereignty and prosperity," he said.
Yoon was removed from office in April over his botched martial law attempt in December.
Calls have been growing within the conservative PPP for the ousted president to sever his ties with the party, with many party members believing that his departure is necessary to help boost Kim's stagnant poll numbers against Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung.
"I believe the (former) president will make a rational decision," Rep. Kim Yong-tae, interim party leader, said during a press conference on Thursday. "As the interim leader, I would respectfully recommend the president leave the party."
PPP candidate Kim has largely retained a neutral position about Yoon's potential exit from the party, saying it was up to Yoon to decide whether to leave the PPP, while more centrist members of the party had called for the leadership to expunge Yoon's party affiliation.
