Yoo Si-min "Crazy people, is a 40% approval rating high?" Controversial remarks

"President Yoon's Approval Rating Recovers to 40%
At the Lowest Level of Former President Moon"

Former Director of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Yoo Si-min sparked controversy by calling President Yoon Seok-yeol a "crazy X" during a YouTube broadcast.

Yoo's remark came during his appearance on the YouTube show 'Maebul Show' the previous day. Referring to the recent recovery of President Yoon's approval rating to the 40% range at the end of last month, he said, "Ah, but crazy," then quickly covered his mouth.

Former Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Chairman Yoo Si-min hesitates while speaking [Photo by YouTube capture]

He continued, "They're crazy Xs, thinking 40% is high? That," adding, "(The approval rating) went down to 28% and then rose to 40%, so they mistakenly think it rose tremendously, but it wasn't high." He said, "It's the level when President Moon Jae-in was at his lowest," and added, "Even if you're not in your right mind, you should know your limits."

Yoo's remarks are interpreted as targeting the ruling party, including President Yoon, and are expected to spark controversy over his harsh language.

When the host mentioned, "There are reports that President Yoon and Han Dong-hoon, the emergency committee chairman, have entered another phase of conflict," Yoo said, "It's because they don't get along. They should clash sometimes, but last time they just argued."

When asked if he was referring to intellectual 'beating,' he replied, "Political beating. Last time, they went to the fire scene and took political beating and kept quiet, didn't they? This time, they will probably face political punishment again."

In December of last year, former director of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Yoo Si-min, who was fined in the first trial for defaming Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, was also sentenced to a fine in the appeal trial. After the hearing, former director Yoo Si-min is seen leaving the Seoul Western District Court building and sharing his thoughts with the press. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

This referred to the encounter between President Yoon and Chairman Han at the fire scene in Seocheon, Chungnam, during the party-government conflict over First Lady Kim Geon-hee's luxury bag allegations in January.

At the same event, Yoo also criticized the appointment process of Ambassador Lee Jong-seop to Australia, who has been embroiled in controversy over 'investigation evasion.' He said, "Hwang Sang-moo (former Presidential Office Senior Secretary for Civil Society) is being fired for his own reckless remarks, so there's no damage, but bringing in this ambassador is problematic because of phone calls with a person presumed to be the president, which could lead to criminal issues and grounds for impeachment. They hurriedly covered it up, so why bring him in?"

When asked if Chairman Han is expected to step down after the general election, Yoo said, "How can a created being fight the creator? They can't fight." When the host asked him to predict political changes if the 'anti-Yoon (anti-Yoon Seok-yeol)' faction wins 180 seats in this general election, he said, "Either (the ruling and opposition parties) cooperate or (President Yoon) gets impeached. One of the two will remain, and I think it's fifty-fifty."