Park Won-seok "Civilization (Moon Jae-in - Lee Jae-myung) Conflict Could Explode" [AK Radio]

"Pro-Lee Faction Responds Cynically to Moon Jae-in's Interview"
"Now Is Not the Time for Lee Jae-myung to Shift Right;
He Must Demonstrate Unifying Leadership"
"Han Dong-hoon Needs a Message About the Future of Conservatism"

Former Justice Party lawmaker Park Won-seok predicted on the 12th that "depending on the outcome of Lee Jae-myung's appeal trial, a civilizational conflict (Moon Jae-in vs. Lee Jae-myung) could erupt." Appearing on Asia Economy's YouTube channel 'AK Radio,' Park said, "The reaction of pro-Lee (pro-Lee Jae-myung figures) to former President Moon Jae-in's recent interview is very negative." Below is a summary of the interview. For detailed content, click the attached video.

At yesterday's 7th hearing of the impeachment trial, President Yoon Seok-youl claimed that the State Council meeting during the emergency martial law was held normally.

This is completely contradicted. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo maintains the position that it cannot be considered a normal State Council meeting. Acting President Choi Sang-mok also holds the view that the State Council did not go through proper deliberation. The State Council members should have recorded their attendance, but no one did. Although 11 members attended, meeting the quorum for convening the State Council, it cannot be considered a normal meeting. Isn't it that the president just said he would attend and then left? The State Council members just sat around worried, complaining somewhat aimlessly, and then it ended...

This is a very important issue and point of contention in the constitutional court proceedings. Because procedural legitimacy is essential; to declare martial law, the procedure of going through State Council deliberation must be a prerequisite. However, since the majority of State Council members say it cannot be considered deliberation, the Constitutional Court will make a judgment on this.

A somewhat wry moment yesterday was when President Yoon, during his final statement as the respondent, said that when he came to the National Assembly to deliver a policy speech, the lawmakers neither attended, applauded, nor shook hands with him, but that does not justify the declaration of martial law. He may have felt hurt, but using that as a logic to justify martial law is somewhat ridiculous.

Former President Moon Jae-in apologized in an interview with Hankyoreh, and Lee Jae-myung also apologized.

Seeing former President Moon's apology, I thought, "Why didn't you say this earlier? You only say this after facing an unprecedented constitutional crisis like an insurrection." The more decisive moments than when President Moon appointed Yoon as Prosecutor General were during the investigation of Cho Kuk and the conflict between Choo Mi-ae and Yoon Seok-youl. During the Cho Kuk investigation, one of the two should have been dealt with quickly?either wrapping up Minister Cho or Prosecutor General Yoon. But President Moon delayed and wavered, which was hard to understand. What was even harder to understand was during the Choo Mi-ae?Yoon conflict. In front of the national leadership, the minister and the prosecutor general engaged in a harsh fight. Later, Minister Choo was removed, but that was only after the conflict had festered.

Former lawmaker Park Won-seok is appearing on AK Radio for an interview on February 12.

Why do you think former President Moon apologized at this point?

Recently, within the Democratic Party, so-called pro-Lee Jae-myung one-pole system and the possibility of an early presidential election amid judicial risks have led anti-Lee figures to start voicing their positions. The pro-Lee side's counterattack was that it makes no sense for those responsible for the last presidential election defeat to be making such claims. I think Moon felt he needed to make a significant clarification on this. In a way, it broadens the scope for anti-Lee figures to move... Since Lee Jae-myung was a candidate in the last presidential election, it is natural in a political rhetorical sense for him to say "it's my responsibility."

Will the conflict between pro-Lee and anti-Lee factions now subside?

There was a time when Moon and Lee (Moon Jae-in vs. Lee Jae-myung) appeared to be harmonizing, but there seem to be some internal differences that are hard to reconcile. So, the reaction of pro-Lee members within the party to President Moon's interview is very negative. They cynically respond that Moon is actually inciting anti-Lee factions behind the scenes, showing an attitude as if suddenly trying to get a share of the benefits. This is generally the mood among core pro-Lee members. Therefore, depending on the outcome of Lee's second trial regarding the Public Official Election Act case, latent conflicts could explode.

What is your evaluation of Lee's so-called 'rightward shift'?

Originally, Lee was not someone who focused on policy colors when he was mayor of Seongnam or governor of Gyeonggi Province. When you think of 'Lee Jae-myung,' you think of basic income, free school uniforms in Seongnam, and youth allowances of 100,000 won, which strongly project an image of free welfare. However, he has also chosen many policies that do not fit that image. He is not ideologically rigid or stubbornly progressive by nature.

The problem is that within the party, the shift seems too abrupt, and there seems to be insufficient internal consensus. For example, suddenly abandoning the basic society concept and moving toward corporate-centered growth?while acknowledging the need for a rightward shift, critics say it should not be such a sudden change.

Another point is that during the recent impeachment crisis, both the party and Lee himself seemed trapped by the limits of expansion. As a response, he appears to be taking a policy rightward shift, but the question is whether that is really necessary now. The 'Lee Jae-myung risk' is whether his policy colors are too strong to gain trust from the moderate or middle groups, or whether the risk lies with the messenger himself. The latter is more likely. However, that cannot be resolved by a policy rightward shift.

Do you see this as a matter of trust?

This kind of position shifting does not seem to help Lee's expansion much. When he gave the speech as the leader of the negotiation group, it was hard to grasp his stance. For example, regarding the Semiconductor Special Act, he held a meeting suggesting that exceptions to the 52-hour workweek limit might be allowed, but then suddenly talked about a four-day workweek. He is too inconsistent. Sometimes this, sometimes that, so people criticize, "What is his real face?"

Measures to complement the 'Lee Jae-myung risk' should be political or strategic rather than policy-based. Recently, he said, 'The defeat in the presidential election is my responsibility, and a party's life is diversity,' but that is insufficient to resolve the image problem. The surroundings are also problematic. If he alone sends a message of unity and inclusion but his close aides or pro-Lee figures send different messages, it does not help him. He continues to be doubted. Lee must gather all the party's energy to demonstrate the unity needed to win the main election.

Are you saying now is not the time for a 'rightward shift'?

Not now. Overcoming the messenger risk is the priority. It is unclear what values Lee pursues. Showing inconsistent behavior on that point is not good.

Recently, writer Yoo Si-min's harsh critique of anti-Lee figures became a hot topic.

Was it really necessary to use such harsh words? It was too harsh. They are on the same side, and although Yoo Si-min is not a Democratic Party member, considering the party's competitiveness and expansion for the main election, is it necessary to create such a strong division within the party? This reflects a kind of totalitarian sensitivity. I cannot shake the feeling that it went too far.

Former Assemblyman Park said that writer Yoo Si-min's evaluation of the dissident figures was somewhat excessive.

Former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in evaluated that former leader Han Dong-hoon has the greatest expansion among conservative candidates. What do you think?

After the insurrection crisis broke out, former leader Han played a very significant role in opposing martial law within the People Power Party and agreeing to impeachment, helping ensure that the emergency martial law failed. He made a remarkable decision that night. As party leader, he acted without hesitation, leaving clear evidence that the People Power Party is not a party that sympathizes with the insurrection. When this crisis ends, I agree that Han Dong-hoon will be the most legitimate figure on the conservative side. The important question is how he will reverse the situation where he rapidly loses his support base and is branded a traitor. Besides opposing martial law, he should have a message about the future of conservatism.

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo's approval ratings are a hot topic.

In any case, it is a phenomenon that in polls, not just once or twice but consistently, especially in multi-candidate races, he comes out first. If the presidential election becomes a reality, he will enter the primaries, but it is hard to predict what message he will bring. The biggest victim is Mayor Hong Joon-pyo. Of course, Mayor Hong has considerable personal skills, so it is uncertain what will happen once the primaries begin.

There are talks that the People Power Party is increasingly leaning ideologically to the right.

If the People Power Party cannot distance itself from Yoon Seok-youl, the leader of the insurrection, the early presidential election will be a lost cause. The conservative party that has governed and had governing capabilities several times in the past is disappearing, and in its place, a reactionary and far-right party is emerging as a transitional phase. The existing far-right in South Korea had established its base around asphalt activists, YouTube, and some large churches, but now it is pushing into the mainstream institutional party, the People Power Party. At this rate, it will become a far-right party isolated regionally in Yeongnam. Then, conservatives who want to run in elections in the metropolitan area cannot stay in that party.

Former Assemblyman Park predicted that if the People Power Party continues as it is, it will become an extreme right-wing, Yeongnam-based party.