Yoo Sang-min: "It would be better for Moon to resolve the Lee Myung-bak pardon issue before stepping down"

"Cooperation Essential"... Positive Evaluation on 'Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum's Reappointment'

On October 3rd last year, Lee Sang-min, Chairman of the Central Election Commission, declared the opening at the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential primary Incheon tour joint rally and the 2nd Super Week event held at Songdo Convensia in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Lee Sang-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, referred to the special pardon of former President Lee Myung-bak as a "stage that cannot be helped but to be done naturally." Regarding the speculation about Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum's retention, he positively evaluated it by saying, "Cooperation is essential."

On the 14th, Lee appeared on BBS Radio's 'Park Kyung-soo's Morning Journal' and said, "President Moon Jae-in has already expressed regret over former President Lee Myung-bak, who is elderly, being imprisoned for a long time."

He continued, "Former President Park Geun-hye has already been pardoned," and added, "I think it would be a good look if the current president and the next president work together on this." He also said, "It would look better if President Moon resolves this issue (special pardon) before leaving office, and it does not seem like something to postpone to the next president."

Regarding the possibility of retaining Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, Lee said, "If possible, that option is also very good," and added, "Rather than showing the unsightly scenes of clashes and struggles between the ruling and opposition parties over the prime minister's confirmation from the early days of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's government, it would be a good opportunity for Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, who has been comprehensively managing state affairs under the Moon Jae-in government, to continue to carry the baton during the transitional period to the Yoon Suk-yeol government."

He further stated, "President-elect Yoon was elected with less than half of the support votes. Also, the Democratic Party secured an absolute majority of nearly 180 seats two years ago in the general election, but this time it also received less than half of the support votes. Therefore, since both sides have weak leadership with less than half support, cooperation and mutual collaboration are not options but necessities," and added, "For the country's development and national governance, as well as for their own success, it is inevitable to cooperate and collaborate, so I hope this wisdom will be used as a good precedent."

However, on the 14th, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum dismissed the reports about his retention as "very inappropriate." A Prime Minister's Office official told Newsis in a phone interview that "It is very inappropriate for such media reports to come out regarding the prime minister's position," and added, "The prime minister considers his role to be to complete state affairs smoothly before the next government takes office and to finish the handover work well."

The side of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol also dismissed some reports about considering retaining current Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum as the first prime minister of the new government. Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the president-elect, said at a briefing at the Yeouido party headquarters on the same day, "There has been no consideration."