"'Is it the right time for a 'crime suspect' to hold a press conference?'"
Presidential Office: "The summit meeting will be decided considering the National Assembly situation"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] On the 12th, the People Power Party launched a fierce attack on Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, regarding his New Year's press conference, questioning "Is this the right time to hold a press conference?" They claimed that the press conference was a "shield" to avoid legal risks related to the Seongnam FC sponsorship fund allegations and a trick to change the political situation. Regarding Lee's proposal for a 'meeting between the heads of government' with President Yoon Seok-youl, they dismissed it by saying, "This is not the time for the president to meet with a criminal suspect." The presidential office also stated that while the meeting is open, they will make a decision considering the situation in the National Assembly.
On the afternoon of the same day, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, told reporters that Lee's proposal for a meeting with the president seemed like a claim for a one-on-one meeting with the president, but the presidential office has repeatedly said there are no plans to meet. He added, "In the current situation of non-cooperation with state affairs and confrontation, what conclusion could come from such a meeting? I think it is a shield or a distraction from his own legal procedures."
Regarding Lee's call for a "major reshuffle of the cabinet, including the economic team," Joo said, "When a new administration comes in, there is a honeymoon period of about a year where active support and evaluation are expected, but with 169 seats, not cooperating on the budget and yet demanding personnel changes is an overreach."
Emergency Response Committee Chairman Chung Jin-seok also criticized on the morning of the same day, saying, "Isn't it irresponsible for someone at the center of national suspicion to hold a leisurely press conference without explaining his corruption allegations, especially when several people around him have died and his close aides are on trial, without any apology or reflection?"
Chairman Chung added, "I hope they stop obstructing and let the Yoon Seok-youl government, chosen by the people, work. There are talks about a meeting with the president, but I think this is not the time for the president to meet with a criminal suspect."
Regarding Lee's proposal for constitutional amendments such as the 'four-year single term for the president,' he said, "Issues like power structure reform and constitutional amendments should be discussed by the Special Committee on Political Reform. It is proper to observe the discussions of the Special Committee first." Floor leader Joo also commented on Lee's remarks, saying, "This is a matter to be decided through the Special Committee on Political Reform, and it is not appropriate for the party leader to make definitive statements on whether it will or will not happen."
Kim Mi-ae, the party's floor spokesperson, said in a briefing, "Lee's New Year's press conference was a desperate shield show of a mere criminal suspect, lacking the dignity of a leader of a major opposition party and a member of the National Assembly." She pointed out Lee's legal risks, saying, "What kind of New Year's press conference is this when personal criminal allegations such as Seongnam FC, Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong, and the suspicion of lawyer fee payments by Ssangbangwool have not been explained to the public?"
Kim also commented on Lee's mention of basic income and a basic society, saying, "Before talking about a 'basic society,' I hope the Democratic Party will be restored from Lee Jae-myung's shielded faction to a 'basic public party.'"
Senior spokesperson Yang Geum-hee also said, "The typical populist slogan of Lee Jae-myung, the basic society, has resurfaced again," adding, "It is clear that astronomical resources will be required and the burden will be passed on to future generations." Regarding Lee's mention of a '30 trillion won emergency livelihood plan,' she criticized, "There was no realistic plan for securing resources, only an irresponsible listing of the need for 'massive finances.' It was just a threat that the government should figure out how to secure funds for Lee Jae-myung-style populism."
Meanwhile, a presidential office official said in a background briefing in the afternoon, "The (heads of government) meeting is open," but added, "We will make a decision considering various factors such as the situation in the National Assembly." The official also dismissed constitutional amendments as a matter for the National Assembly to discuss.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
