Lee Jun-seok's 'Yangduguyuk' Backlash... Restless People Power Party

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, is seen with teary eyes while speaking directly about the provisional injunction application related to the party's transition to an emergency response committee system during a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the 13th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] After former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok unleashed criticism toward President Yoon Suk-yeol and the party's Yoon Core Group (Yoon Seok-yeol's key associates), the backlash inside and outside the party is growing.

On the 13th, former leader Lee held a press conference and went beyond questioning the political and procedural legitimacy of the transition to a emergency committee, recalling the phrase 'Yangduguyuk' (羊頭狗肉·a four-character idiom meaning "hanging a sheep's head while selling dog meat," implying something flashy on the outside but poor quality inside). Former leader Lee had previously mentioned Yangduguyuk last month in relation to the text message President Yoon sent to floor leader Kwon Seong-dong, a member of the Yoon Core Group, calling him an "internal stabber party leader," writing, "They hang a sheep's head in front but receive dog meat from gangsters behind and sell it."

At the press conference, he said, "Seeing the series of events, the sigh of Yangduguyuk I uttered was a self-reproach mixed with self-blame," adding, "Looking back, the person who shook the sheep's head and sold dog meat the hardest and best was myself." He also mentioned a sense of 'self-disgust.'

The People Power Party did not respond at all to the press conference today (14th), following the previous day. The party did not issue any official statement. It is known that party leaders including Emergency Committee Chair Joo Ho-young and Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong have adopted a no-response stance. This is interpreted as a judgment that refuting the press conference content could further escalate the fallout.

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party classified as part of Yoonhakgwan, and lawmaker Jang Je-won are attending the plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 2nd, and are seen walking out side by side during the meeting./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

However, contrary to the party's official position, the shock over the press conference is considerable inside and outside the party. Former lawmaker Na Kyung-won wrote on Facebook, "Yesterday's press conference went too far, way too far. I had a small hope that with a sharp mind, brilliant logic, and eloquence used properly, he could become a great politician, but I think I have to give up on that now."

Former lawmaker Na urged, "Before determining criminal guilt or innocence, it is only right to reflect on oneself and step back for a while," adding, "Please stop trying to overcome your political and judicial crisis with tears and do not create discord within the ruling party anymore."

Lawmaker Kim Mi-ae criticized, "It is an outrageous remark that the former party leader compared his own party's presidential candidate to dog meat."

On the other hand, those defending former leader Lee are turning the arrow toward the Yoon Core Group. Kim Yong-tae, the youth supreme council member, appeared on MBN's 'Jung Woon-gap's Focused Analysis' and said, "Ultimately, I think all responsibility lies with those called the Yoon Core Group," adding, "Now the president really needs to make a statement."

Lawmaker Cho Hae-jin said, "I think the side that caused the problem first and broke things first bears greater responsibility. That side also has power." Emergency Committee Chair Joo Ho-young took the 14th holiday off and entered final deliberations for the emergency committee appointments. Earlier, Chair Joo had set the 16th as the deadline for emergency committee appointments.