Yoo Si-min: "Enlightened Monarch? Too Sophisticated a Metaphor... No Intention to Run in Next Presidential Election"

Yoo Si-min, Chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, is delivering a welcoming speech at the '16th Anniversary of the National Balanced Development Declaration' event held on the afternoon of May 7 at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] Yoo Si-min, chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation (61), commented on his controversial 'enlightened monarch' remark, saying, "I guess I used too sophisticated a metaphor." Regarding his potential candidacy in the next presidential election, he firmly stated, "Even if I were overwhelmingly number one in the polls, I would not run."

On the 30th, Chairman Yoo appeared on the YouTube channel 'Kim Eo-jun's Das Bweida' and addressed the recent controversy surrounding his 'enlightened monarch' comment.

Previously, on the 25th, at the '10.4 Inter-Korean Summit Declaration 13th Anniversary Commemorative Forum,' Yoo evaluated North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un's apology in a notification by saying, "It is good news in that there has been some progress in what we hoped for," and described him as "like an enlightened monarch."

At that time, opposition figures strongly criticized the remark.

During the broadcast, Chairman Yoo said, "It seems many people hear 'enlightened monarch' as praise," and began by explaining, "Catherine the Great (Empress of Russia) was harsh but is considered an enlightened monarch. She was a dictator but valued education and treated Jews generously. These were things absolute monarchs did not do."

He continued, "Kim Jong-un is a dictator. Since North Korea is a dynasty with three generations of succession, Kim Jong-un became an absolute monarch due to biological fate," adding, "Enlightened monarchs wanted to rule the country longer, but since people would not tolerate governance as in the past, they ruled differently. It's better than not doing it at all."

Regarding the criticism of his previous remarks, he said, "I guess I used too sophisticated a metaphor," and pointed out, "Those who fuss over the term 'enlightened monarch' would have been the ones to accuse Socrates if they were born in Athens 2,500 years ago."

Meanwhile, Chairman Yoo also declared that he has no intention to run in the 20th presidential election scheduled for March 2022.

He stated, "The first and second places are already determined in the current flow, and with only six months left, will a new candidate fall from the sky or spring from the ground?" and added, "(I) would not run even if I were overwhelmingly number one in the polls."