Yoo Seung-min: "Declined Prime Minister Offer... Cannot Serve Due to Differences with President Lee"

Rules Out Running in Local Elections
Stresses the Need for Unity Ahead of the 2028 General Election

Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min officially confirmed on January 1 that he had received an offer from the Democratic Party of Korea last year to serve as Prime Minister. Yoo stated that he received a direct offer from then-presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung but declined it due to his political philosophy and convictions.

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min revealed that he received a direct offer from then-presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung but declined it due to his political philosophy and convictions.

On this day, appearing on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Yoo explained, "In February last year, a certain Democratic Party lawmaker told me, 'If Lee is elected, please serve as Prime Minister.' I immediately replied, 'I have no intention of doing so. Please relay this to Lee.'"

He continued, "In early May last year, then-lawmaker Kim Min-seok called and texted me several times, but I did not respond. The following day, I also received calls and texts from candidate Lee, but since I had already made my position clear, I did not reply at all."

When asked by the host whether he would consider serving as Prime Minister if their views aligned, Yoo responded, "How can you work together when your views are different? You need to share the same views to work together, and this is not a position to pursue by abandoning one's philosophy and convictions out of ambition, so I declined." He added, "I have many differences with President Lee Jae-myung. We differ on every issue, such as mobilizing the National Pension Fund for currency stabilization, distributing consumer coupons to all citizens, implementing basic income, and introducing local currencies."

Yoo also ruled out running in the upcoming local elections in June. He said, "I've heard suggestions to run for Gyeonggi Governor or Seoul Mayor, but with the party in its current state, there is no point in trying. I am not considering it at all." He further commented, "Except for Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, a near-total defeat is expected. The outcome is obvious."

However, he indicated his intention to focus on a political role for conservative reconstruction and unity. Yoo emphasized, "What is far more important than the local elections is the 2028 general election. To keep the Democratic Party's tyranny in check, it is essential to secure a majority in the 2028 general election." He added, "For the public to recognize the People Power Party as a healthy opposition and an alternative force, the party must remain united and not divided."

Regarding the controversy over his daughter Yoo Dam's alleged preferential appointment as a professor at Incheon National University, Yoo said, "There is absolutely no issue legally, politically, ethically, or academically. Since the police and the Board of Audit and Inspection are investigating and the university is reviewing her thesis, I ask that they conduct a thorough investigation and reach a conclusion. That will clearly prove her innocence."