Joo Ho-young on the ruling party revising 'no nomination': "I feel instability and malice as the regime declines"

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 30th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized the Democratic Party of Korea on the 1st for breaking its promise of 'no nomination' and effectively pushing for nominations in the Seoul and Busan mayoral elections, saying, "There is a sense of anxiety and malice in the Moon Jae-in administration's downward path, as if they will do anything to win the election."

On the same day, Joo said on his Facebook, "The Democratic Party is trying to tear up the party constitution over the weekend."

He pointed out, "When a by-election occurs due to a serious wrongdoing, President Moon Jae-in promised the public during his time as party leader that no candidate would be nominated, and this was inscribed in the party constitution, which is the party's constitution. However, Representative Lee Nak-yeon quietly postponed the decision to nominate to a 'rubber stamp' all-member vote, saying 'it is right to be judged by nomination.'"

Joo criticized Representative Lee, asking, "As the leader of a public party, has he ever apologized for taking responsibility for the sexual harassment by Park Won-soon and Oh Keo-don? Has there been any change in circumstances to amend the party constitution?" He then quoted a line from poet Park No-hae's poem "The Great Delusion," saying, "Now, people in the Moon administration are shouting, 'I am different, this time is different, we are different.'"

He said, "Even when insisting on taking all the standing committee chair positions, the Democratic Party said, 'The absolute majority held by the deep-rooted forces and our absolute majority are different,' trampling on the parliamentary operation practices that have continued since 1987."

Furthermore, Joo questioned, "Has former Minister Cho Kuk ever apologized for the criminal acts of his family, which are being specifically confirmed in court?" He added, "He says things like, 'I, Cho Kuk, am different, not now, prosecutorial reform comes first.'"

He sharpened his criticism by quoting poet Choi Seo-rim's "Armband," saying, "In the Moon Jae-in administration's downward path and the ruling party's words and actions, there is anxiety and malice that 'if we lose power, we are finished.' History will record these people in power as 'a group who monopolized power wearing armbands.'"