Yoo Si-min Criticizes the Democratic Party at Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Event
"Has the authority, but only debates endlessly without taking action"
"A vague and indecisive attitude will give opportunities to the Cho Kuk Innovation Party"
Yoo Si-min, former director of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, made a sharp criticism, saying, "I don't know what the Democratic Party of Korea has been doing in recent months," and added, "The Democratic Party is currently in a very dangerous situation." According to a video released through the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation’s YouTube channel on December 14, Yoo attended the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Supporters' Day event held at the Daejeon MBC Public Hall on the 13th, where he participated in a discussion with Junhee Jung, adjunct professor at Hanyang University, and Byun Sangwook, former senior reporter at CBS.
On the 13th, Yoo Si-min, former director of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, made a sharp remark at the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Supporters' Day event held at the Daejeon MBC Public Hall, saying, "I don't know what the Democratic Party of Korea has been doing in recent months." Roh Moo-hyun Foundation YouTube
Yoo said, “Why is it that the Democratic Party has authority but does nothing and only talks?” He continued, “Instead of just debating endlessly, they should submit legislative bills, whether it’s to establish a court specializing in insurrection cases or anything else, and do what they need to do.” He also said, “Why are people in the presidential office arguing about whether their opinions match or not?” and added, “President Lee Jaemyung is not someone who would say, ‘Why is the party doing that on its own?’ If there is a difference of opinion, he would say, ‘If the lawmakers have gathered the will of the party members, I should accept it.’” He further commented, “Why do political chiefs and others talk so much? Instead of talking, they should get to work.”
Regarding the local elections scheduled for June next year, he emphasized, “The ruling party should focus on improving the lives of citizens, as a ruling party should.” He continued, “The more the Democratic Party maintains a vague attitude as it has in recent months, the more opportunities will arise for the Cho Kuk Innovation Party,” and described the Cho Kuk Innovation Party as “a spicier version of the Democratic Party.” He pointed out, “If the Democratic Party continues like this, it will be in danger in Honam if it faces off against the Cho Kuk Innovation Party.”
Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Regarding President Lee, he said, “First of all, he is a smart person,” and added, “He is someone who has wanted to be president for a very long time, and on top of that, he is intelligent.” He also commented, “He has overcome a very difficult period quite well over the past six months.”
Reflecting on the past year since the 12·3 Martial Law, Yoo said, “Even if Judge Ji Guyoun delivers a not-guilty verdict or dismisses the indictment against former President Yoon Suk-yeol, do not be surprised.” He added, “Even if the result is different, it is not the end. It is a new beginning,” and continued, “I think it is a process of discovering how deep the illness in our society runs, so we should calmly observe the situation and think about what needs to be done.”
He said, “The most serious problem has arisen in the courts,” and continued, “The biggest error of the judiciary is that it does not engage in dialogue.” He remarked, “It’s as if they’re saying, ‘We are almost gods now.’ I want to say, ‘Who do you think you are?’ Our society needs to start finding answers to this problem now.”
President Lee Jae-myung is listening to remarks from attendees during the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Personal Information Protection Commission briefing held on the 12th at the Government Sejong Convention Center in Sejong City. On the right is Kang Hoon-sik, Chief of Staff to the President. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
Previously, Yoo had also criticized the presidential office. On December 2, at the ‘Sustainable Democracy: Writing Together Again’ forum, he addressed the controversy over personnel requests involving Kim Namguk, saying, “Don’t say the Lee Jaemyung administration is doing well; it is very dangerous.” He continued, “I must act and speak within the bounds where, even if every message I send or receive is made public tomorrow morning for any reason, I can be legally and morally confident that there will be no problem.”
Kang Hoon-sik, Chief of Staff to the President, said in an interview with MBC Newsdesk on December 9 that he shared the video with all staff at the presidential office, stating, “What Yoo said is not wrong. I told the staff that only when we conduct ourselves with greater discipline and a heightened sense of tension in the presidential office at times like this will the public place greater trust in us.”
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