Gathering garbage only leads to foul odors.

Kim Moon-soo, who abandoned his ministerial position as if waiting for President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment and ran for president, is causing much talk by toasting with Han Dong-hoon and saying, "Han Dong-hoon is a treasure of our party, we are one."

Some people are making a fuss about this, as if they've made a great discovery, saying that the People Power Party must unite with Han Dong-hoon, Lee Jun-seok, Kim Moon-soo, and others to defeat Lee Jae-myung.

From one perspective, the argument to unite with Han Dong-hoon, Kim Moon-soo, and Lee Jun-seok to judge the current administration might seem very plausible. However, those who make such claims only see one side of the story.

GATHERING GARBAGE ONLY MAKES IT STINK

Unity and solidarity are admirable concepts. However, those who advocate for unity with individuals like Han Dong-hoon and Lee Jun-seok fail to recognize that there are principles that must be upheld in unity and solidarity.

In other words, they understand that binding multiple broomsticks together makes them strong, but they don't realize that rotten broomsticks are useless no matter how many are tied together. Garbage, when collected in large quantities, only produces foul odors.

The country that most ardently advocates for and strives for unity and solidarity in the world is North Korea. This is how North Korea achieved its strong national unity.

But did North Korea allow just anyone to unite and join forces? No. North Korea has been the most ruthless and has executed the most people who doubted or opposed the leader's ideology. Even now, hundreds of thousands of political prisoners are dying in concentration camps.

If North Korea had allowed its opposition to roam freely, its socialist system would have already changed. However, because traitors were ruthlessly purged, the dictatorial kingdom of North Korea still exists. North Korea is living proof that unity and solidarity have principles that must be upheld.

Of course, this is not to say I advocate for North Korean-style executions. My argument is simply that traitors and those obsessed with political power must be unconditionally expelled from the political arena.

Look at Han Dong-hoon. He betrayed those who helped him, undermined the People Power Party, and ultimately destroyed the conservative right by agreeing with President Yoon's impeachment.

Look at Kim Moon-soo as well. He is a disgraceful figure who betrayed President Yoon, who appointed him as a minister, and ran for president. Kim Moon-soo still doesn't say a word about the fraudulent election. Not only that, but he further betrays the conservative right, which trusted him, by praising Han Dong-hoon as a patriot.

Beyond them, how many other traitors participated in the impeachment of two conservative presidents? Do you really think the People Power Party will be unified and change if we continue to keep such traitors while advocating for unity?

No. These individuals will do all sorts of wicked things in the future to seize power within the People Power Party, and when election time comes, they will once again pledge loyalty to the Democratic Party of Korea.

PURITY OF THE RANKS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN UNITY

If the traitors who supported President Park Geun-hye's impeachment had been expelled earlier, President Yoon's impeachment would not have happened. However, at that time, Hong Joon-pyo, who controlled the Grand National Party, did not cleanse the party; instead, he expelled its No. 1 member, Park Geun-hye.

Individuals like Kim Moo-sung, who ruined their own party and shattered the conservative government, are still serving as honorary advisors to the People Power Party, yet nothing has changed. In such circumstances, is unity with these traitors necessary?

By accepting individuals like Han Dong-hoon, who betrayed their president and party, back into the fold, do you truly believe they will dedicate themselves to the country without any selfish motives? Wake up from your foolish dreams. Political garbage only brings division to a party.

The strong power in politics stems not from unity or solidarity, but first and foremost from the purity of its ranks. The impeachment of the Park Geun-hye and Yoon Suk-yeol administrations was not due to the People Power Party's weakness. It was due to the betrayal of corrupt individuals, and because they were allowed to remain.

Those who oppose this argument, please answer this: What would have happened if President Syngman Rhee, at the time of the Republic of Korea's founding, had joined hands with individuals like Kim Koo and Kim Gyu-sik, who advocated for unification with North Korea? Even then, there were many foolish people who argued for unity.

Remember! If you leave a rotten apple in a box, the rest will all rot too. The best unity comes from expelling the rotten elements. Those who don't understand this simple principle and advocate for unity with traitors are foolish fools. Garbage should be discarded quickly; that is the correct approach.

Advisor, Former Representative of North Korean Trading Company in Czech Republic

◆ Advisor Kim Tae-san

Advisor to Hanmi Ilbo, former representative of a North Korean trading company in the Czech Republic. In Korea, he has worked as the vice-director of the North Korea Social Research Institute, providing deep insights and experience on inter-Korean relations and North Korean issues.