Yoo Seung-min to President Yoon: "Be Prepared to Die if You Fail to Convince the People"

"Conservative Camp's Worst Crisis... Could Face a Tragedy"

Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min recently expressed concern about President Yoon Seok-yeol, who has been embroiled in allegations of interference in candidate selection, saying, "Tomorrow's press conference is the last chance to determine the fate of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and the People Power Party," and added, "I have a bad feeling. The Yoon Seok-yeol regime, the People Power Party, and the conservative camp are all facing the worst crisis." President Yoon is expected to address political controversies, including allegations related to First Lady Kim Geon-hee and the release of recorded phone conversations with Mr. Myeong Tae-gyun, through an unlimited Q&A session during his national address on the 7th.

On the 6th, on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' former lawmaker Yoo said, "It's not just about the numbers in presidential approval ratings in polls, but the public's trust in the president and the administration has plummeted to rock bottom," adding, "In tomorrow's press conference, President Yoon must completely abandon his previous stance and adopt the resolve that 'if I cannot convince the people, I am finished.'"

Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min. Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding the national address being moved up to the 7th from the originally expected end of the month, he said, "Everyone predicts that the president will not change, but seeing the press conference date being moved forward, it seems President Yoon has developed a sense of crisis and fear." Former lawmaker Yoo added, "I also think it won't be easy for President Yoon to change, but I have a slight hope because if he fails to convince the people in tomorrow's press conference, it could lead to a very bad, tragic end."

On the recent allegations of Mr. Myeong's interference in candidate selection, he claimed, "The essence of this issue is that the presidential couple was deceived by an absurd con artist." Yoo said, "President Yoon, who has only been a prosecutor and has no political experience, might have been tempted because Myeong Tae-gyun was associated with former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in and was friendly with Representative Lee Jun-seok," emphasizing, "Whether it's Cheongong or Mr. Myeong, the president must sever ties with these shamanistic con artists."

He then urged President Yoon, saying, "The best way to resolve the First Lady Kim's issue is a special prosecutor."

Former lawmaker Yoo criticized, "In the past, when corruption involving the sons of former Presidents Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung surfaced, the prosecution arrested and indicted them, and the presidents sincerely bowed and apologized to the people," adding, "But now, the prosecution has decided not to indict regarding allegations of First Lady Kim's involvement in Deutsche Motors stock manipulation and receipt of luxury bags." He continued, "Suspending the First Lady's activities is not enough; measures are needed to completely block her interference in state affairs," and said, "In old-fashioned terms, measures equivalent to exile or banishment, which more than half of the people can accept, should be taken."