Chae I-bae "Moon, Write a Reflection in Your Farewell Speech"... Former Blue House Members Including Go Min-jung "Apologize for the Outrageous Remarks"

Chae I-bae Cites 'Cho Kuk Incident' as Cause of Presidential Election Defeat

Kim Eui-gyeom, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker (left), and Go Min-jeong, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Democratic Party lawmakers who previously worked at the Blue House collectively opposed the remarks made by Democratic Party Emergency Response Committee member Chae I-bae, who called President Moon Jae-in's farewell address a "confession of regret."

Earlier, on the 16th, Committee member Chae stated at the Democratic Party Gwangju Provincial Party Emergency Response Committee meeting that the Moon administration lost the hearts of the people due to the "Cho Kuk former Minister of Justice incident," and said, "As a member of the Democratic Party leadership, I reflect and apologize." In an interview with the media released the same day, he also said to President Moon, "I hope he leaves a confession of regret in his farewell address."

In response, on the 17th, thirteen members including Ko Min-jung, Kim Seung-won, Kim Young-bae, Kim Eui-gyeom, Min Hyung-bae, Park Sang-hyuk, Yoon Gun-young, Yoon Young-duk, Yoon Young-chan, Jung Tae-ho, Jin Sung-jun, Choi Kang-wook, and Han Byung-do issued a statement demanding "an official and sincere apology from Committee member Chae, as his remarks were highly inappropriate for a member of the Emergency Response Committee who is contemplating the party's direction at a crossroads."

They said, "It is said that losers should remain silent. This is because losing is not determined by the numbers shown in the election but by the attitude after defeat," adding, "Therefore, what the Democratic Party needs is a fierce internal discussion on the reasons for defeat, which is necessary to plan for the future. However, intense discussions must begin with thorough self-reflection and remorse."

They continued, "Without self-reflection, evaluations defined as 'blaming others' cannot properly identify mistakes. Not knowing what the mistakes are naturally means no solutions can be found," and pointed out, "None of us are free from responsibility. Not only the already resigned party leadership but also the Emergency Response Committee members who stepped up to manage the party bear the painful responsibility for the presidential election defeat."

They added, "At times like this, debating whose responsibility is greater is cowardice aimed at hiding even a little of one's own responsibility."

Furthermore, they said, "No one thinks that the Moon Jae-in administration did everything perfectly over the past five years. We, who were once part of the Moon administration, feel the same. However, we do not believe that the past five years were filled only with faults without any achievements. When elections are near, everyone looks to the president, but when the party faces difficulties, pushing the president to the edge by demanding a 'confession of regret'?is that the kind of good politics Committee member Chae I-bae envisions?" they raised their voices.

They continued, "The evaluation the Democratic Party must make now should not be a simple dichotomy of good and evil or using someone as a scapegoat. We urge the Emergency Response Committee to promptly prepare a meticulous program for an objective and calm evaluation of the causes of the election defeat. That is the urgent task the Emergency Response Committee must undertake now."

Meanwhile, there were calls within the Emergency Response Committee to dismiss Committee member Chae. Democratic Party lawmaker Min Hyung-bae demanded on Facebook, "Chae I-bae's outrageous remarks at the Gwangju on-site Emergency Response Committee are intolerable. If such remarks cannot be controlled, Emergency Response Committee Chairperson Yoon Ho-jung is unqualified. Immediately remove Committee member Chae I-bae."