Choi Jae-sung: "Comparing the Kim Nam-guk Incident to the Cho Kuk Incident is Overblown"

Regarding the controversy surrounding Kim Nam-guk, a member of the Democratic Party who left the party amid suspicions of multi-billion won cryptocurrency transactions, and the evaluation within the party that the situation is more serious than the 'Cho Kuk incident,' former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Choi Jae-sung pointed out that "comparing it to the Cho Kuk incident is an exaggeration."

On the 18th, on YTN's 'News King Park Ji-hoon,' former Secretary Choi said, "The Kim Nam-guk case is completely different in several aspects and cannot be compared," emphasizing this point.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He stated, "Originally, these matters are incomparable. In the case of former Minister Cho Kuk, it started when the president challenged the personnel authority, and then Yoon Seok-yeol, who was the Prosecutor General at the time, initiated the investigation," adding, "President Moon Jae-in requested a private meeting, and when that failed, the Cho Kuk investigation was conducted with a net wider than the Pacific Ocean."

He also pointed out that the comparison does not hold in terms of the individuals involved. Former Secretary Choi said, "The individuals and the matter itself are incomparable, and the issue is still ongoing," adding, "It was an incident that deeply divided the entire nation, with rallies held in Seocho-dong and Gwanghwamun, shaking the country profoundly. But this is just a member of the Democratic Party, isn't it?"

Regarding the Democratic Party's decision to refer Kim Nam-guk to the Ethics Committee, he said, "Before the referral to the Ethics Committee, there was a so-called 'Reform General Assembly.' They did not decide to refer the case to the Ethics Committee there, so this came out a bit late," adding, "There are evaluations that this was done under pressure from the situation, which is very regrettable."

On the emerging 'responsibility theory' for party leader Lee Jae-myung in this incident, he said, "It is unrealistic for a party leader to take immediate responsibility for such deviations or problems of affiliated members; otherwise, no leader or party head would survive," but added, "However, there are very regrettable aspects in how this has been handled and dealt with."

Regarding former Democratic Party Emergency Committee Chair Park Ji-hyun's call for Lee Jae-myung to break ties with the so-called 'Gaeddal' (fervent supporters), former Secretary Choi said, "Bringing 'Gaeddal' into this issue is somewhat inappropriate," adding, "Former President Moon Jae-in had supporters, and so did former President Roh Moo-hyun. It is not appropriate for politicians to argue or create issues over the problems caused by enthusiastic supporters."

When asked whether the Lee Jae-myung leadership, surrounded by judicial risks such as the Daejang-dong and cash envelope scandals, can lead the party into the general election, he said, "If the Democratic Party's approval rating drops before the election and they say they cannot contest the general election, even the Son of God would not survive," adding, "The attitude and approach of the Democratic Party towards judicial risks, the Kim Nam-guk case, and previous cash envelope scandals are all part of the sea of public sentiment." Ultimately, managing public sentiment is crucial.