"Called 'National Dogs and Pigs' vs 'Image Politics'... Ruling Party Leadership Candidates Clash Over Yoon's Remarks"

Yoo Seung-min "The Emperor Has No Clothes Is a Subject of Mockery" Criticizes Yoon
Ahn Cheol-soo "Ryu Also Lost Gyeonggi Governor Primary" Throws Shade
Kim Ki-hyun Targets Both Ryu and Ahn with "'Internal Shooting' 'Gentleman Politics'"

People Power Party lawmakers Kim Ki-hyun (left) and Ahn Cheol-soo having a conversation. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] The competition among the People Power Party's presidential candidates ahead of the party convention is intensifying. They are actively releasing messages to check and criticize their opponents, aiming to highlight their presence. In particular, they show clear differences in stance regarding the controversy over President Yoon Seok-yeol's remarks.

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, who is mentioned as a next party leader candidate, is almost the only voice within the ruling party criticizing President Yoon's private remarks. Since related reports surfaced on the 22nd, he has posted twice on his Facebook criticizing the presidential office's response.

The intensity of his criticism was strong. He directly targeted President Yoon with statements such as "Trying to hide incompetence with inconsistent words only loses trust" and "The naked king is only a subject of ridicule." On the 29th, after a special lecture at Kyungpook National University in Daegu, Yoo told reporters, "The presidential office and our party must immediately stop the comedy of treating the people like dogs and pigs, apologize sincerely, and move on."

Yoo has not yet explicitly declared his intention to run for party leadership. However, he is considered a strong candidate, ranking first in a recent poll on suitability for the next party leader. Yoo said about his candidacy, "Nothing has been decided at all," but added, "One thing I have clearly decided is that if there is something I must do for the country, I will definitely do it," leaving the possibility open.

Former Assemblyman Yoo Seung-min giving a special lecture at Kyungpook National University in Buk-gu, Daegu. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Assemblyman Ahn Cheol-soo, who declared his intention to run early, holds a critical view of the opposition party that labeled the private remarks controversy as a "diplomatic disaster." In an interview with KBS Radio's 'Choi Young-il's Current Affairs Headquarters,' Ahn said, "The core of this issue is diplomacy," adding, "Domestic matters can be fought over, but regarding foreign affairs, both ruling and opposition parties must speak with one voice to have strength and benefit national interests. We cannot keep exhausting energy internally forever." However, Ahn expressed regret over the presidential office and ruling party's response, saying, "I am someone who advocated resolving and concluding the issue quickly rather than escalating it."

Ahn also appeared to check former lawmaker Yoo, who has recently been gaining prominence. He said, "Yoo is an excellent politician," but criticized, "Unfortunately, through various processes, he has somewhat lost the trust of party members. In the June 1 local election Gyeonggi governor primary, even though the general public poll and party member vote were weighted 50-50, he lost the primary," he pointed out.

Another party leadership candidate, Assemblyman Kim Ki-hyun, defends President Yoon and takes the toughest stance against the opposition and MBC, which first reported the private remarks controversy. Kim criticized his competitors Yoo and Ahn for "cowardly politics." In a Facebook post, he said, "Some of our party's leadership-level figures are watching the crisis as if it were someone else's problem, focusing only on image management while weighing political gains and losses," adding, "If they just offer meaningless false equivalence commentary and withdraw overseas when the party faces a difficult situation, that is not the attitude of comrades."

He also said, "If one is deceived by the opposition's absurd fake manipulated broadcasts and attacks their own party's president and party more than the Democratic Party, engaging in 'internal sabotage,' that is also not the conduct expected of comrades." This statement targets both Yoo, who openly criticized President Yoon, and Ahn, who relatively avoids criticism or mention of the opposition. Kim emphasized, "It is time for strong leadership that can fight and win against those who are desperate to bring down the Yoon administration by any means."

Meanwhile, the timing of the People Power Party convention is undecided. The schedule may change depending on the outcome of the injunction filed by former party leader Lee Jun-seok against the party. If the injunction is dismissed, Lee's return possibility is blocked, and holding the convention in December after the regular National Assembly session or early next year is likely.

If the injunction is accepted, the current emergency committee led by Chairman Jeong Jin-seok will be suspended, and Floor Leader Joo Ho-young is expected to serve concurrently as acting party leader and prepare for the convention. However, in this case, Lee may claim to return to the leadership position, and legal disputes could arise again.