Yoo Seung-min: "Kim Min-jeon and Yoon Sang-hyun, What Are They Doing... Danger of Extreme Right-Wing Shift in People Power Party"

"Anyone can get hurt... Everyone needs to come to their senses"
"We must not let violence prevail"
"It is important to appeal to moderates"

Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min expressed concerns about the riot at the Seoul Western District Court and criticized the People Power Party.

On the 20th, Yoo appeared on CBS Radio's 'Park Jae-hong's One-on-One Match' and mentioned the violent incident at the Western District Court. He said, "Putting politics aside, it is truly heartbreaking. Except for the blind supporters on both sides, everyone must be feeling pain," adding, "I wonder how the country has come to this state. Issues that should be resolved orderly according to the law are becoming increasingly complicated."

Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo

He continued, "The most important thing is how to resolve the division and conflict among the people," and explained, "President Yoon Seok-yeol, far-right YouTubers, protesters at the scene, and the People Power Party all need to persuade the public with reasonable positions, but things are moving in the completely opposite direction. In some ways, what’s happening can be called incitement." He added, "In line with that (incitement), YouTubers and protesters mixed together and went looking for the judge who issued the warrant," warning, "If this continues, anyone?whether from the Democratic Party or the People Power Party?can get hurt. Everyone needs to come to their senses."

Yoo also said, "The People Power Party keeps changing its stance depending on public opinion at the moment. From the beginning, I urged that we clearly organize our position on issues like martial law, rebellion, and impeachment," and criticized, "In this situation, it was revealed that Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kwon Young-se sent Seol gifts to 10 far-right YouTubers. Don’t the people see exactly what this means?" He also pointed out, "Assemblyman Kim Min-jeon called the Baekgoltan, and Assemblyman Yoon Sang-hyun went to the rally, bowed, and apologized. I don’t know what on earth they are doing."

He emphasized, "Politics should be conducted with a philosophy that can appeal to moderate conservatives as well, but it is becoming too far-right. I think this is very dangerous," adding, "If the loudest and most violent people end up winning, what importance will the constitution and laws have?" Finally, he said, "There is freedom of assembly and freedom of association, but there is no freedom to use violence. That undermines the rule of law," and added, "We need to move toward stability and unity. The People Power Party also has many parts to reflect on."