Hong Joon-pyo: "President Moon's Close Aides Run Amok... No Different from the Joseon Dynasty"

"The Era When Cheoksin Ran Rampant: Kings Were Generally Incompetent and Ignorant"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Former Liberty Korea Party leader Hong Joon-pyo stated on the 21st, "Recently, I suddenly wondered who exactly are the cheoksin (powerful relatives) of President Moon Jae-in in this country."

On the same day, Hong said on Facebook, "Looking at how the world is going these days, isn't it no different from the Joseon Dynasty when cheoksin ran rampant?" and added, "The kings of the Joseon Dynasty during the time when cheoksin ran rampant were generally incompetent or ignorant."

Hong explained, "In the Joseon Dynasty, cheoksin referred to officials who, as royal in-laws trusted by the king, wielded power in exchange for taking the king's insults on his behalf. Despite all kinds of corruption and misconduct, the king protected the cheoksin, and the cheoksin bore the brunt of criticism and insults instead of the king, while shielding him."