Kim Byungjoo Criticizes Yoo Seungmin: "Boasting About Ignoring the President's Call as If It's a Badge of Honor... Truly Petty Behavior"

"Do Not Exploit Co-Governance for Self-Promotion"

As Yoo Seungmin, former member of the People Power Party, recently revealed that he had been offered the position of Prime Minister by the camp of then-presidential candidate Lee Jaemyung of the Democratic Party of Korea prior to the last presidential election, Kim Byungjoo, a member of the Democratic Party, criticized him by saying, "He is boasting as if ignoring President Lee Jaemyung's attempt to reach out to him is some kind of badge of honor."

Yoo Seungmin, former member of the People Power Party, is being interviewed at The Asia Business Daily headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, last March. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

On January 2, Assemblyman Kim stated on his Facebook page, "There is a code of ethics in politics," and added, "Do not exploit 'co-governance' for self-promotion."

He continued, "Politics should aim for unity. Even if the president was elected as the Democratic Party candidate, he is the president for all citizens. Efforts to appoint competent individuals to the right positions, regardless of political affiliation, should not be criticized but rather encouraged as a political virtue."

Assemblyman Kim questioned, "What is to be gained by disclosing a past offer at this point? Is it to show off that he is still being courted, or is it a calculated political move to disparage the other side's efforts for unity?"

He further stated, "Political dialogue and proposals are part of the process for national unity. However, to make them public, distort the other party's sincerity, and use them as a tool to elevate one's own political stature is truly a petty act. The public wants not someone who betrays efforts for unity for their own political gain, but a great politician who is willing to join hands for the sake of the country."

Previously, Yoo revealed that prior to the last presidential election, he had been offered the position of Prime Minister by Lee Jaemyung's camp if they came to power, but he declined. On January 1, during an appearance on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Yoo said, "In February last year, a certain member of the Democratic Party told me that then-leader Lee Jaemyung wanted to convey a message: 'If Lee comes to power, he wants you to serve as Prime Minister. Lee specifically asked that this be communicated to you.' When I asked if this was really Lee's intention, I was told repeatedly that it was, and right there I replied, 'Tell Lee that I have absolutely no intention of accepting.' After that, I stopped answering calls from that person."

He continued, "I thought it was all over in February last year, but around April or May, I started receiving calls from various people in the Democratic Party, and I did not respond to any of them. Then, in early May last year, I received several calls and text messages from then-Assemblyman Kim Minseok, but I did not reply at all. The next day, candidate Lee himself called several times and sent a text message saying, 'This is Lee Jaemyung. I really hope we can talk.' Sensing what this meant, I did not reply or answer the calls at all."