Yoo Seung-min: "Changing the party convention rules is third-rate comedy... Han Dong-hoon must show difference from Yoon"

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Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, classified as a next presidential candidate of the People Power Party, said on the 7th, "Changing the party convention rules just to beat Yoo Seung-min alone and all sorts of stories coming out is like a third-rate comedy," adding, "I wonder how much the public thinks this is 'pathetic'."

Yoo appeared on KBS Radio that day and said, "(Running for party leader) is being seriously considered. Once the decision is made, I will definitely announce it," expressing this view.

The People Power Party elects the party leader with 70% party member votes and 30% public opinion polls at the party convention. However, there are internal calls to change this ratio to '9 to 1.' Regarding this, Yoo said, "Where is the rule that you suddenly move the goalposts while playing soccer?" and pointed out, "If we suffer a crushing defeat in the general election, the Yoon Seok-yeol government will not be able to carry out the reforms it truly wants for five years and will become a lame-duck government."

He continued, "Who should become the party leader to secure victory in the metropolitan area is something our party members must think about strategically and deeply when electing," adding, "But if the rules distance us from public sentiment, it is not the People Power Party but the power of party members. We need to look at this more coldly."

Regarding the continued mention of Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon as a next party leader candidate, he said, "Politics is a difficult process, and there must be a process of reflecting on why I do politics and whether I can do it well," and evaluated, "If Minister Han is no different from President Yoon Seok-yeol, the support from the metropolitan area, centrists, and young people for the Yoon Seok-yeol government will be reflected almost exactly the same."

He also expressed discomfort about the internal atmosphere that the so-called 'Yoon's mind'?President Yoon's intentions?could play an important role in the next party leader election. He emphasized, "According to our Constitution and Public Official Election Act, the president and public officials must maintain political neutrality," adding, "The president is a person and a politician, so he will have his own thoughts, but once in the presidential position, interference in primaries, candidate selection, and elections must never happen."

He added, "Former President Roh Moo-hyun was impeached for a single remark. Although the Constitutional Court dismissed it, President Yoon Seok-yeol, when he was the head of the special investigation team during the past state affairs manipulation special prosecutor, secured a two-year prison sentence for a former president due to interference in the presidential primary through the National Intelligence Service election intervention investigation, so he knows this better than anyone."

He viewed positively that President Yoon often has dinner with ruling party lawmakers at the presidential residence. Yoo said, "It is better to invite many people to eat at the residence than to eat alone," but added, "He should not only meet with the core of Yoon's faction but also meet the opposition floor leader, opposition lawmakers, communicate with the public, listen carefully, and reflect it in state affairs."

Regarding the dismissal of Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, he raised his voice, saying, "Before the opposition party submits a dismissal recommendation, the president must make a decision, and the minister himself must decide," adding, "This is not a war, but 158 people died in the heart of Seoul, and the state could not protect them, so an apology is necessary, and those responsible must take responsibility."

Yoo drew a line on the issue of forming a new party, saying, "I am not thinking about it at all."