Opposition: "President Becomes Disaster Victim... Incompetent, Powerless, Irresponsible Government"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The Democratic Party of Korea harshly criticized the Yoon Suk-yeol administration on the 9th, calling its response to the heavy rain that poured over the Seoul metropolitan area 'incompetent, powerless, and irresponsible.'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the day, spokesperson Jo Oh-seop held a briefing at the National Assembly communication office, stating, "President Yoon Suk-yeol, who should have been monitoring the government's disaster response in real time yesterday, did not show up until the end," and criticized, "How should the public accept the fact that the president has effectively become a disaster victim himself?"

Spokesperson Jo pointed out that President Yoon, who should have been at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters the previous day to check the flood damage situation and give instructions, was stuck at home and responded by phone.

Jo said, "The presidential office stated that the president was unable to leave his residence due to flooding around his home and checked the government's disaster response by phone," and questioned, "What exactly can a president isolated at home check through a phone call?"

He continued, "The public watching the president trapped at home and unable to do anything during a disaster situation can only feel devastated," adding, "An incompetent government, a powerless government, an irresponsible government. The people watching the Yoon administration seem to be in a state of anarchy."

He then raised the issue of the Yongsan office relocation again, intensifying the criticism.

Spokesperson Jo said, "This disaster was caused by the president's stubbornness to move the presidential office and residence unconditionally before taking office," emphasizing, "The president holds a position responsible for the future of the Republic of Korea and the lives of its people 24 hours a day. There must be a permanent system in place to respond swiftly to urgent situations."

He also criticized, "The presidential office's excuse that wherever the president is, that place is the situation room, looks truly pathetic," and added, "If that logic holds, I want to ask what the NSC Crisis Management Center is for."