Yoo In-tae: "Cho Kuk Should Be Ashamed of Privileged Class Behavior... The 2030 Movement Is Very Desirable"

Former Democratic Party lawmaker In-Tae Yoo [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Former Democratic Party lawmaker Yuin-tae on the 12th directly criticized the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) regarding its crushing defeat in the April 7 by-elections, stating that even without the LH scandal, defeat was inevitable. He also accused the DPK of treating the party constitution like "an old rag" by changing it to field candidates in Seoul and Busan, where the mayoral posts became vacant due to sexual harassment scandals.

In particular, he praised the 2030 first-term lawmakers within the party who recently called for reflection and self-examination by referring to the "Cho Kuk incident." He also commented on former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's investigation of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, saying, "It was not a case of beating up innocent people."

Yuin-tae, a senior ruling party figure considered an "original pro-Roh" faction member, appeared on SBS TV's "Joo Young-jin's News Briefing" that day and said, "I still don't know whether those who personally attack the first-term lawmakers' reflection on the by-election defeat are a minority of hardline pro-Moon supporters or the majority." He added, "Regarding the mention of the 'Cho Kuk incident,' the movement by those five young lawmakers is very commendable."

Yuin-tae emphasized, "When an issue arises, there should be more lawmakers who speak their minds without worrying about the leadership or the Blue House. That is how change happens."

The first-term lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Korea are expressing their stance on the April 7 by-election defeat at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 9th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, first-term DPK lawmakers Oh Young-hwan, Lee So-young, Jang Kyung-tae, Jang Cheol-min, and Jeon Yong-gi issued a statement on the 9th saying, "We thought former Minister Cho Kuk was the epitome of prosecutorial reform, but we reflect on whether the process caused public anger and division." They were then subjected to comments and text message bombings from hardline party supporters calling them "the five first-term traitors" and "ungrateful."

Regarding the sentencing of Cho Kuk's wife, Jung Kyung-shim, to four years in prison on charges including admission fraud for their children, Yuin-tae said, "It is true that she was somewhat unfairly treated. I was surprised by the verdict." However, he criticized, "It is shameful that one person in the Blue House's civil affairs office invested in funds to increase their wealth or that only a privileged few engaged in building their children's credentials. It was not a case of beating up innocent people." He added, "We need to see both sides of the excessive damage caused by Yoon Seok-yeol's prosecution."

Meanwhile, Yuin-tae said, "The two by-elections this time were elections where candidates should not have been fielded." He continued, "Although it was put to a party member vote and the will of the members was respected, former leader Lee Nak-yeon should have risked the outcome by not fielding candidates." He criticized, "How would the party appear to the public when it does not even implement the party constitution once and discards it like an old rag? Even without the LH scandal, it was a clearly losing election."