Sung Il-jong: "Moon, Governing the Country in a State Detached from Reality... Appoint Ministers Too"

Doubts Over Accurate Understanding of Vaccine Inoculation and Youth Unemployment
"If Minister Is Appointed, Powerless Opposition Has No Choice"

Sung Il-jong, Emergency Response Committee Member of the People Power Party / Photo by Yoon Dong-ju, doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Seong Il-jong, Emergency Response Committee member of the People Power Party, assessed the special speech delivered by President Moon Jae-in on the 4th anniversary of his inauguration the previous day as "seeming to be quite detached from reality."

On the 11th, Seong appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and said, "I thought the president might be running the country in a state very disconnected from reality."

He added, "Looking at the COVID-19 vaccination rate, it ranks below the top 100, and while other countries are taking off their masks, he really seems to have the wrong idea. The illusion is created by a few products that are doing well in exports, but in reality, if you look at the domestic market, many self-employed people have closed their businesses or are out on the streets. What will be done about this situation? I was a bit worried whether he properly understands the unemployment rate, which exceeds 10%, including youth unemployment."

Regarding President Moon's remark during the ministerial confirmation hearings that "it is not a failure," Seong said, "If it is not a verification failure, then just appoint them. It's simple. If it's not a verification failure, please appoint."

He continued, "So far, despite 29 people being judged unfit and raised as issues by the opposition and the public, appointments have continued. We have no choice but to accept the president's appointments. The opposition has no power," adding, "Let the public make their judgment."

Seong said, "In cases like Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Moon Seung-wook and Minister of Employment and Labor Ahn Kyung-duk, we adopted them on the same day. If there are no major defects, the opposition approves them all," but added, "While it cannot be entirely blamed on the system, there is a need to partially supplement the insufficient parts."