Lee Jae-oh, the founding preparation committee chairman of the National Integration Solidarity, is speaking at the founding convention of the National Integration Solidarity held on the 23rd at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Juhee] Former lawmaker Lee Jae-oh of the United Future Party criticized the ruling party, which has been fiercely attacking Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol and Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung on the 3rd, saying they "seem like possessed people."
On the 3rd, Lee appeared on CBS Radio's 'Sisa Jaki Jung Kwan-yong' and said, "Both Prosecutor General Yoon and Chairman Choi are being treated that way because they don't fit the ruling party's preferences, and they are trying to drive them out," adding, "Would they do such things without trying to pin something on them?"
He continued, "It's fine for the ruling party to point out that Chairman Choi's remark about '41%' damages neutrality, or to question whether he has a preconceived notion that the suspension of Wolseong Unit 1 was wrong. However, when they bring up issues about his son or act as if Chairman Choi personally has some problem, I think they are going too far."
Regarding Chairman Choi's mention of the president's approval rating, he said, "(Chairman Choi) seemed to mean that you can't push through major policies like the nuclear phase-out without the consent of the entire public or even a majority's support," adding, "I don't think he placed much weight on the 41%, but the ruling party is nitpicking, and Chairman Choi's meaning is not necessarily what they claim."
On the Blue House recommending former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Oh-soo for the appointment of an audit committee member at the Board of Audit and Inspection, which Chairman Choi reportedly rejected, Lee said, "I think Chairman Choi did very well. He rejected Kim because he thought it was too much, and I don't see any problem with that."
Professor Choi Jin-bong of Sungkonghoe University, who appeared together, said, "Because the ruling party acted that way (attacking Chairman Choi), his position seems to have been strengthened. There was no need for that," but also pointed out, "'The president who received about 41% support' could be a controversial remark. As the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection, it would have been better not to make statements that could cause misunderstandings about neutrality."
Earlier, Chairman Choi sparked controversy after it was revealed that during the audit process of the early shutdown of the Wolseong nuclear power plant, he said, "Can we say that the government's national agenda, which only received 41% support in the presidential election, has gained public consensus?"
As the ruling party launched a full-scale offensive against Chairman Choi, some have analyzed whether he might become a 'second Yoon Seok-yeol.'
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