Kim Nam-guk Targeting Won Hee-ryong: "Losing Reason and Speaking Rashly Will Never Raise Approval Ratings"

Rep. Kim Nam-guk of the Democratic Party of Korea questioning at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Kim Namguk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, sharply criticized Gyeonggi Province Governor Won Heeryong, who recently made harsh remarks regarding the mid-level prosecutor personnel reshuffle, saying, "Losing reason and making reckless remarks will never increase your 'approval rating.'"

On the afternoon of the 27th, Kim Namguk posted on his Facebook, directly addressing, "I hope you 'exercise self-restraint' and rather calmly take a long-term perspective to compete."

He said, "There is an evaluation that two governors are very different despite being from the same position," adding, "Another governor recently scored an average of 53.2 points, ranking first, when asked who they think is the presidential candidate most expected to perform best in the 'economic national agenda'."

He continued, "I think it is because their abilities are evaluated based on 'economic policies' rather than reckless remarks," and pointedly said, "Governor Won Heeryong, instead of trying to raise your approval rating by attacking the president with reckless remarks, I hope you compete with good livelihood policies rather than shallow 'tricks.'"

He added, "For example, if you raise a voice clearly differentiated from the People Power Party on the 'mandatory installation of CCTV in operating rooms' bill, which over 80% of the public supports, many citizens would applaud," and "I want to travel to Jeju Island with my parents, who are in their seventies, during the summer vacation. I sincerely hope you allow it."

This is interpreted as a response to Governor Won's recent remarks requesting the postponement of Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung's visit to Jeju Island due to COVID-19 quarantine measures. On the 9th, Kim criticized Won on his Facebook, saying, "Some tell others not to come to Jeju because of quarantine, but if they themselves go out frequently, wouldn't people judge them as politicians who say one thing and do another?"

People Power Party presidential candidate Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju Province, is being interviewed by Yonhap News at the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Seoul Headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 20th.

On the 27th, Governor Won said, "Seeing the prosecutor personnel reshuffle that replaced all chief prosecutors handling investigations related to the administration, I have given up my last hope," and stated, "I am angry at President Moon Jae-in's hypocrisy."

He continued, "If you are so afraid of investigations related to the administration, why didn't you stop the prosecution's reckless special investigations in the early days of the administration? Are you scared because the administration is ending?" and fiercely criticized, "President Moon's goal is not to go to prison."

He also criticized, "You gave Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl the sword to investigate the living power, but was that sword meant to imprison only the previous administration and protect this administration?"

Furthermore, he said, "You can cover up the crimes committed, but you cannot erase them. Whoever it is, it will be revealed to the whole world in the next administration," and raised his voice, "I regard national unity as the highest value, but I realize that without judging President Moon Jae-in's double standards revealed in this prosecutor personnel reshuffle, there can be no unity. I will roll back all policies of the Moon Jae-in administration."