'Just Grateful' Cho Kuk Shares Illustration of Yoo Si-min Retiring from Political Commentary

Lee Geun-hyung "Democratic Party Leadership Grateful to Yoo Si-min"
Kim Du-kwan "Please Return to the Frontline of Media Reform"

Photo by Jo Guk, former Minister of Justice, Facebook capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk expressed his gratitude to Yoo Si-min, director of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, who declared on the 18th that he would stop political commentary, saying, "I was simply grateful."

On the same day, Cho shared an illustration on his Facebook and other social networking services (SNS) with the phrase "I was simply grateful. Thank you." The illustration featured Yoo smiling brightly against the background of the YouTube channel broadcast logo "Yoo Si-min's Alileo."

Earlier, on the 10th, Yoo stated on the YouTube broadcast "Alileo" that "It is not impossible for the progressive camp to have 180 seats including proportional representation," which drew criticism from both ruling and opposition parties.

In response, Yoo appeared on CBS Radio's "Sisa Jaki Jung Kwan-yong" on the 13th and clarified, "I never said that the Democratic Party of Korea would get 180 seats including proportional representation. The progressive camp includes the Democratic Party of Korea, the Democratic Citizens Party, the Open Democratic Party, the Justice Party, and the Minsheng Party."

He continued, "A viewer asked, 'Won't the Democratic Party get 180 seats including proportional representation?' I said, 'It's impossible. It's an excessive desire. But if we vote hard, isn't it possible for the entire progressive camp to reach 180 seats?' I spoke of it as a hopeful wish," explaining the background of the 'progressive camp 180 seats' remark.

He added, "To portray such hopeful remarks as if they were made by the current administration or the ruling party is intentional distortion, fake news, and a lie."

As a result, Yoo announced on the 15th during KBS's general election vote counting broadcast, "I am now planning to stop political commentary."

Also, on the 17th YouTube broadcast, he apologized to defeated Democratic Party candidates such as Kim Young-choon (Busan Busanjin-gu Gap), Park Soo-hyun (Chungnam Gongju·Buyeo·Cheongyang), and Nam Young-hee (Incheon Dong-gu·Michuhol-eul), saying, "I must accept the criticism from the Democratic Party side" and "I am sorry."

Encouragement from ruling party figures continues, not only from former Minister Cho. Lee Geun-hyung, former strategic planning committee chairman of the Democratic Party who oversaw the party's general election strategy, said, "If the decision to stop political commentary is because of this controversy, I ask you to reconsider."

In a post titled "Wrapping up 180" on his Facebook that day, Lee said, "I understand Yoo Si-min's feelings well. His sincerity and wishes might have been slightly expressed in a light context."

He added, "I think it is hard to measure the help Director Yoo has given to our entire camp and party," and "Personally, and at least among the Democratic Party leadership I know, everyone is grateful to Director Yoo. Moreover, at this point after the election, there is not even a hint of resentment."

Park Soo-hyun, the Chungnam Gongju·Buyeo·Cheongyang candidate who lost by 2,624 votes, posted a text message he sent to Director Yoo on the 19th on Facebook.

Park wrote, "Director, why are you apologizing? The defeat is solely due to my shortcomings. Just as it took 10 years to persuade Gongju, I have pledged and started that it will take 10 years to change Buyeo and Cheongyang as well."

He continued, "Regarding your life for the democracy of the Republic of Korea, I am the one who should be grateful, respectful, and loving," urging, "Please do not get tired and become an 'unextinguishable light.'"

Nam Young-hee, the Democratic Party candidate for Incheon Dong·Michuhol-eul who lost by 171 votes, also said, "I do not blame Director Yoo even a bit."

In a post on Facebook on the 18th, Nam said, "Looking coldly, that defeat is solely due to Nam Young-hee's shortcomings," and "Passing responsibility to Director Yoo will not change my position and will only divide our internal strength."

She added, "For the past 10 years, Director Yoo has played the role of 'principal of democratic citizen education school,'" and "Where has that merit gone, and why are only small faults being exaggerated? It is just a psychological mechanism to shift the cause of defeat to others."

Kim Doo-kwan, elected in Yangsan-eul, Gyeongnam, said on the same day, "I think Director Yoo has made special efforts for the victory of the progressive reform camp so far," and "I respectfully request Director Yoo to gather his mind and return to the forefront of media reform."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.