– Appointment of two Constitutional Court justices was an unavoidable measure, well done
– If appointments were not made, there could have been an economic security crisis, and international credibility might have declined
– Yoon’s personal letter to protestors against impeachment? Abandoning presidential dignity and inciting
– Yoon is holding out using protestors as a shield… should voluntarily surrender
– People’s Power Party is shrinking and deteriorating… core members are all prosecutors
[YTN Radio News Fighting]
– Is there hope for the party’s regeneration? Even if it’s me, I must speak up
– Kwon Young-se, if he has affection for the party, should not lead it to become an extreme right party… It goes against the members’ wishes
– People’s Power is taking a course to hand over power to Lee Jae-myung
– Lee Jae-myung has many flaws and weaknesses… From a centrist perspective, he is the weakest candidate in the opposition
– Should seriously consider constitutional revision and electoral district reform in the next presidential election
– Early presidential candidacy? I’ve never hesitated in actions I should take
– Currently, I will devote 100% effort to party innovation
– If political instability is not resolved, a second IMF crisis might occur
– Hong Jun-pyo’s “Lemming theory”? Hong Jun-pyo is Lemming No. 1
* The below text may differ from the actual broadcast, so please refer to the broadcast for accurate content.
[Please mention that the content is from the YTN Radio
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◆ Kim Woosung PD (hereafter referred to as Kim Woosung): As pre-announced, Yu Seung-min, a former lawmaker of People’s Power, who is often mentioned in connection with the upcoming presidential election and reforms, joins us in the studio. Welcome.
◇ Yu Seung-min, former People’s Power lawmaker (hereafter referred to as Yu Seung-min): Yes, this is Yu Seung-min.
◆ Kim Woosung: There have been heavy and difficult issues that the people have been experiencing across December and January. Could you please give a word to the people?
◇ Yu Seung-min: The new year is always about hope, but recently there was a heartbreaking tragedy where numerous precious lives were lost. How to uncover the truth and heal from this issue is our major task. Before that, due to martial law and the impeachment situation, politics is too unstable. As politics become unstable, the economy and security are in a major crisis. Although the new year starts in such a bad situation, I hope this year will be a year where we create new hope.
◆ Kim Woosung: Acting President Choe Sang-guk appointed two out of three Constitutional Court justices. Both ruling and opposition parties are criticizing it, and even aides have collectively expressed their intention to resign. Why do you think this decision is so significant?
◇ Yu Seung-min: I think appointing two out of three Constitutional Court justices by Acting President Choe Sang-mok was an unavoidable measure. I believe it was well done. The opposition is dissatisfied because all three weren’t appointed, and ruling party wanted none appointed, so there is dissatisfaction. However, if the constitutional court’s ruling process is left unattended without appointment, I think political instability will spread uncontrollably. As I always worry, it could expand to a crisis in economic and security, a decline in our international credibility or the nation’s credibility. Such expansion is concerning, similar to the IMF crisis, foreign exchange crisis of 1997, as Choe Sang-mok mentioned. As a former economic official, it is understandable that he would have such concerns. He did well. Instead of bickering about it in the ruling and opposition parties, now that the Constitutional Court has an eight-person system, we should observe it.
◆ Kim Woosung: It is the necessary number to proceed with hearings until a judgment. Eight members. Even during the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, it was an eight-person system. However, People’s Power Party is saying responsibility and evaluation will follow. Interim Chairman Kwon Young-se mentioned such things too. The people are not opposed or supportive, but why is People’s Power so opposed, what is their intention?
◇ Yu Seung-min: People’s Power leadership opposed impeachment as party line and said not to appoint Constitutional Court justices. Two of them are ending their term on April 18. If even one out of six opposes, then it will not be invoked. I do not know if they calculate this will increase the chances of President Yoon’s impeachment being dismissed. However, the starting point of this whole situation was martial law destructing the constitution and even being charged with treason. Therefore, the People’s Power leadership’s stance is fundamentally flawed. I have consistently criticized the opposition to even appoint two justices. If there are people in the government cabinet or the president’s office who are thinking of shaking Acting President Choe Sang-mok, such acts should be refrained from.
◆ Kim Woosung: Former lawmaker Yu criticized that rather than those dealing with the responsibility, they are assigning it unjustly, as the news of collective resignation keeps growing.
◇ Yu Seung-min: Those people, during nearly three years of President Yoon’s various mistakes, while the Yongsan aides and secretaries, or the cabinet ministers, couldn’t use their positions to stop it, especially during the martial law and treason mistake. They could not stop it. Now that acting president appointed the justices, something rightful, why are they resigning collectively? How would the public perceive such acts? I am very concerned.
◆ Kim Woosung: Even conservative commentator Jeong Gyu-jae made the same comment.
◇ Yu Seung-min: Isn’t it obvious? Now, the impeachment ruling is pending, but collecting resignations over a rightful act is incomprehensible.
◆ Kim Woosung: Understood. For the first time in constitutional history, an arrest warrant has been issued for the incumbent president with a proviso that arrest can still happen at the official residence or office. President Yoon claims it is illegal and invalid, they are fighting it. How should this be resolved?
◇ Yu Seung-min: There is truth in the High-ranking Officials’ Criminal Investigation Office Act stating that treason, under criminal law 87, is a serious crime. High-ranking Investigators’ Office lacks investigative authority for treason. President Yoon’s legal team raising the issue of lack of jurisdiction is legitimate. Nevertheless, considering the bigger picture, an unimaginable event has occurred, and beyond legal issues, I believe that President Yoon, who always claimed accountability and political responsibility, should act accordingly. Legally challenging it is their right, but the sight of protestors gathering creates division among the people, and it was shocking to see the president inciting the protestors as if calling them to block the arrest warrant with their bodies. Even those protesting for his impeachment should not be misled. President Yoon, being a lawyer, should submit voluntarily for investigation even if he believes High-ranking Investigators’ Office lacks jurisdiction, as the national police have investigative authority. He should be reassuring the divided nation instead of hiding and ignoring responsibilities, shouldering at least the dignity and class befitting a president.
◆ Kim Woosung: Well, President Yoon’s messages are being conveyed live through real-time YouTube. If the High-ranking Investigators’ Office enforces the arrest warrant, clashes may occur, which we hope to avoid.
◇ Yu Seung-min: At the time of the Constitutional Court’s ruling in 2017, there was an accident among those protesting against President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment. Whatever personal political beliefs people hold, we need to prevent such incidents from happening again. President Yoon’s current actions resemble inciting such incidents. No politician in Korea should incite protests like this.
◆ Kim Woosung: Yes. During the previous hour, Assemblyman Jang Kyung-tae from the Democratic Party mentioned “adding charges of inciting rebellion.” Do you agree with this?
◇ Yu Seung-min: Well, I do not want to focus on adding legal charges like Representative Jang Kyung-tae suggested. The elected president should fulfill the minimum duties owed to the citizens. Having arrested countless individuals using law throughout his life, President Yoon should submit to the judiciary’s decision. Security forces should not use force to stop it. Voluntary surrender is the best course of action at this point.
◆ Kim Woosung: Rather than being taken by force, go voluntarily and confidently, as initially declared. Former lawmaker Yu’s opinion will likely reach President Yoon. As for your recent book that asked, “Why Do I Do Politics?” in 2017, these words like betrayal are being mentioned again now, with harsh accusations of betrayal towards those who supported impeachment. What are your thoughts seeing this?
◇ Yu Seung-min: It’s a story from 10 years ago, but it feels like the impeachment was done solely by me. The leadership of our party was mostly in favor of impeachment back then, and the impeachment was because of a wrongdoing justifying impeachment. Seeing the party frames it as betrayal and calls to leave, damaging the entire conservative politics is troubling. Now, it’s still happening again. Although current party leaders supported impeachment, framing it now as betrayal damages the party severely, there’s very little moral left. We need to be aware the crimes committed at the time of President Park were less severe than now. Today’s issues are much more serious. President Yoon’s actions on destroying the constitution are vastly witnessed, yet our party takes the party line to oppose and uses the public as a shield. It is nothing short of regression. The party needs to sincerely reflect, apologize, and find new paths for conservative reformation, only then can it confront elections confidently, otherwise just handing over power to the Democratic Party easily.
◆ Kim Woosung: At the party level, there were mentions of unification and consolidation, but skeptics, mainly regarding far-right exclusions, still exist. Would you say if the party does not take corrective actions, it risks irrelevance?
◇ Yu Seung-min: It’s true. We’re shrinking and deteriorating. Our party, composed of prosecutors and lacking ideological diversity shows extreme tendencies, which are problematic. If we don’t innovate and transform to win over centrist and moderate conservative voters, we’re doomed to becoming an extreme-far-right group. Our core ideology should focus on constitutional values and national integrity, reaching out to the moderate centrists is key. Yet, doing just the opposite is suicidal. Our party’s tiny leadership circle mustn’t lead to extremism. Instead, listen to the members’ true desires, and avoid gifting power to the Democratic Party, but work towards genuine party rebuilding. This opinion deserves highlighting.
◆ Kim Woosung: Reflecting on previous electoral decisions, and with future key players within the party like authority figures and party leadership being similar, wouldn’t change still be expected this time?
◇ Yu Seung-min: I hoped so too. Before Chairman Kwon Young-se took reins, an overdue acknowledgment was needed. Given past statements regarding martial law and impeachment, facing members and reconsidering flawed party policies were critical. The chairman’s apology mentioned anxiety over martial law and impeachment, but didn’t specify what exactly was sorry for, interpretations vary and dissatisfaction remains. If internal problems aren’t rectified and President Yoon keeps dictating, genuine reform will remain a distant hope.
◆ Kim Woosung: On a possible early general election, does the inner party believe this won’t advantageously translate to presidential gains?
◇ Yu Seung-min: It’s highly unlikely to benefit us. Lee Jae-myung from the Democratic Party carries numerous legal risks and represents their weakest potential candidate. Harnessing this perception requires us to break from current wrongs and work towards rebuilding conservatism to face elections confidently.
◆ Kim Woosung: Based on a recent survey commissioned by Kyunghyang Shinmun released on December 28-29, you emerged the top choice among potential presidential candidates from the broader ruling coalition. Why do you emphasize renewal and redirections so ardently?
◇ Yu Seung-min: I’ve advocated consistently for conservatism aligned with constitutional values to broaden its base, targeting especially centrists, young voters, and urbanites. Approaching this strategically, addressing sovereign responsibilities beyond local, regional identities is paramount. Despite obstacles, I will pursue actions necessary to steer the party away from destructive paths.
◆ Kim Woosung: The South Gyeongsang Province won’t singularly define your ambitions, striving to uphold national unity holds significance instead. What stands with constitutional amendments if, per chances, the opposition gains dominance post-elections?
◇ Yu Seung-min: While distant, it’s imperative to evaluate a forthcoming presidential race alongside serious considerations for constitutional reform. Protecting democratic accountability, ameliorating the presidency’s overpower, scrutinizing governmental structure prevent recurrence of unchecked authority abuses.
◆ Kim Woosung: Electoral reform is significantly emphasized too, considering potential wasted votes in numerous constituencies. Does this correlate to a broader strategic shift you’re envisioning post-elections?
◇ Yu Seung-min: Reform is indeed crucial for less polarization, it’s detrimental for national progress to persist fiercely divided electorates when simple majority often results in disregarding broader democratic representations.
◆ Kim Woosung: If early elections were called, would you stand as a candidate?
◇ Yu Seung-min: I’ve never hesitated taking actions that deemed necessary, I feel responsible for fostering transformation and ensuring ideological renewal.
◆ Kim Woosung: Thank you for conveying your insights. As a lawmaker and economist, your viewpoints highlight essential reflective political discourse. A final word to citizens, please?
◇ Yu Seung-min: Unless political instabilities are curbed, economic downfall akin to that experienced during the IMF crisis may recur swiftly. Strengthening our fundamental economic resilience against speculative political tides constitutes a leadership prerequisite. I urge bipartisan cooperation for national sustenance.
◆ Kim Woosung: Many topics to cover beyond time constraints, yet inviting your presence for future YTN Radio discussions is anticipated, we greatly appreciate your insights. Thank you, former lawmaker Yu Seung-min.
◇ Yu Seung-min: Thank you.