[Full Text] Joo Ho-young: "Morally Bankrupt Moon Administration Creating a Totalitarian State"

Joo Ho-young, United Future Party Floor Leader, Delivers Negotiation Group Representative Speech

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] On the 21st, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, sharply criticized the Moon Jae-in administration as a "morally bankrupt totalitarian regime" during the negotiation group representative speech at the National Assembly.

In his negotiation group representative speech held at the National Assembly that day, Floor Leader Joo said, "The situation is such that the presidential power, local power, judicial power, media power, and even civil society power have already been perfectly controlled, and now even the legislative power is completely seized, turning the country into a one-party dictatorship."

He criticized the Moon administration by listing ▲the corruption and irregularities of former Minister Cho Kuk’s family and the investigation process ▲the management of comfort women grandmothers’ donations and the operation of the organization by former Justice Party representative Yoon Mi-hyang and the investigation process ▲unfairness and deprivation of opportunity revealed during the conversion of irregular workers to regular workers at Incheon International Airport ▲the persecution and attempts to oust Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl by the ruling party including Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae ▲lenient rulings revealed during the trials of Governor Kim Kyung-soo, Mayor Eun Soo-mi, and Governor Lee Jae-myung ▲the realities and handling processes of sexual harassment by Democratic Party-affiliated local government heads such as Ahn Hee-jung, Oh Keo-don, and Park Won-soon.

Floor Leader Joo said, "The people feel a great sense of betrayal at this administration’s hypocrisy and are angry at their shamelessness even when exposed," and added, "We will expose all the hypocrisy of the past three years."

Below is the full text of Floor Leader Joo’s negotiation group representative speech.

Hypocrisy of the Moon Jae-in Administration, Destruction of Democracy

We will stop it together with the people

□ Democracy is checks and balances

Democracy is fundamentally based on the separation of powers and the rule of law.

However, in our country now, the principle of separation of powers is collapsing,

and the rule of law is being undermined.

The reason for the existence of the National Assembly is to monitor and check the executive power.

But at some point, our National Assembly has been more focused on defending the presidential power rather than just following it.

Each member of the National Assembly is an independent constitutional institution.

However, the Democratic Party, which won 180 seats in the recent general election,

suppressed all opposing voices by first disadvantaging members who abstained on the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) Act in nominations, and then imposing disciplinary actions.

Having monopolized all standing committee chair positions including the Judiciary Committee Chair,

and emphasizing a united and working National Assembly,

they are now trying to open the highway to parliamentary dictatorship.

This is deeply concerning.

With the presidential power, local power, judicial power, media power,

and even civil society power already perfectly controlled,

now the last remaining legislative power is also completely seized,

establishing a charging posture toward one-party dictatorship,

and becoming a totalitarian state.

So much so that even progressive scholar Professor Choi Jang-jip laments about this administration,

“Their democracy is totalitarianism,”

and “The moral bankruptcy of the progressive forces has led to extreme confrontation and a crisis of democracy.”

In short, this administration is

a ‘morally bankrupt totalitarian regime.’

Despite this situation, President Moon and Democratic Party Floor Leader Kim Tae-nyeon emphasize cooperation whenever possible,

which only confuses the people.

Is the cooperation that the president talks about just about not opposing and agreeing with what the president and the Democratic Party do?

Did Xiang Yu (Hangul: Hang Woo) fall because he lacked power?

They may think that pushing everything through by force will easily produce government achievements,

and easily build a foundation for re-election,

but that is a misconception.

History has repeatedly told us that power is like sand in the hand, and the more you clutch it desperately,

the more it slips away.

President Moon’s term is less than two years left,

approval ratings continue to fall,

and the media has begun to mention the president’s lame duck status.

For national unity and policy success, I earnestly advise genuine cooperation.

Nevertheless, if the Democratic Party insists on unilateral dominance while shouting cooperation,

our United Future Party with 103 seats alone cannot ultimately stop it.

Only the people can stop the reckless dictatorship of the Moon-Minhyang (Moon Jae-in-Democratic Party) regime.

Each citizen must deeply recognize the seriousness of the dictatorship and stand together.

□ The reality of the Moon Jae-in administration is hypocrisy and shamelessness

The Moon administration came to power by advocating fairness, justice, human rights, equality, judicial independence, and women-friendly policies.

But are these values truly being upheld?

The corruption and irregularities of former Minister Cho Kuk’s family and the investigation process,

the management of comfort women grandmothers’ donations and the operation of the organization by former Justice Party representative Yoon Mi-hyang and the investigation process,

unfairness and deprivation of opportunity revealed during the conversion of irregular workers to regular workers at Incheon International Airport,

the persecution and attempts to oust Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl by the ruling party including Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae,

lenient rulings revealed during the trials of Governor Kim Kyung-soo, Mayor Eun Soo-mi, and Governor Lee Jae-myung,

the realities and handling processes of sexual harassment by Democratic Party-affiliated local government heads such as Ahn Hee-jung, Oh Keo-don, and Park Won-soon,

the list is so long it is breath-taking.

The people feel a great sense of betrayal at this administration’s hypocrisy,

and are angry at their shamelessness even when exposed.

Were these values such as fairness and justice

just slogans to seize power?

Recently, folk singer Ahn Chi-hwan released an interesting song called “Irony.”

“Not even worth a penny, flattering the blind power,

wearing the armband of crumbs.”

As the song title suggests, the reality of the Moon administration is truly contradictory and ironic.

Recently, Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan, who did not hesitate to curse at the people,

where is such arrogance that claims “We are right and you are wrong” in the world?

□ Power-related sexual crimes must be investigated and prevented from recurring

The accusation that former Mayor Park Won-soon, who led human rights and women’s movements, sexually harassed a secretary for as long as four years was shocking,

but his sudden death without apology or explanation was also a shock.

What is more surprising is the attitude of this administration and the ruling party.

The Democratic Party and supporters of former Mayor Park still defend him,

ignoring the pain of the victimized woman.

They have intentionally called the clear ‘victim’ a ‘complainant.’

The Democratic Party’s perception that “Mayor Park’s death personally enacted the precedent of Me Too”

is truly speechless.

Even with Me Too, they are dividing sides and camps.

Ignoring the victim’s pain, they do not hesitate to inflict secondary harm.

Floor Leader Kim Tae-nyeon said he would “work to protect victims and establish measures to investigate the truth.”

We propose the formation of a special committee at the National Assembly for truth investigation and recurrence prevention.

We believe the Democratic Party will not refuse.

Because such power-related sexual crimes, which continued from former Governor Ahn Hee-jung, former Mayor Oh Keo-don, to former Mayor Park Won-soon, must no longer be tolerated.

□ Power that loses neutrality is nothing but ‘violence’

Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo! Justices Kim Seon-su, Park Jeong-hwa, Noh Jeong-hee, Kim Sang-hwan!

They are from the Our Law Research Association, International Human Rights Law Research Association, and Minbyun (Lawyers for a Democratic Society).

Constitutional Court Chief Justice Yoo Nam-seok! Constitutional Court Justices Lee Seok-tae, Kim Ki-young, Lee Mi-seon, Moon Hyung-bae!

Aren’t they from the same groups?

Among the 10 Supreme Court justices and 8 Constitutional Court justices appointed after the Moon administration,

5 Supreme Court justices and 6 Constitutional Court justices are all from specific ideological groups.

In short, these judges are already suspected of lacking neutrality.

In fact, there are signs everywhere that the judiciary, using judicial independence as a shield, is delivering rulings favorable to the regime’s tastes.

Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo and Justices Park Jeong-hwa, Noh Jeong-hee, Kim Sang-hwan created the absurd logic that “if false statements were not actively made, punishment is not possible.”

Chief Justice Yoo Nam-seok and Justices Lee Seok-tae, Kim Ki-young, Lee Mi-seon, Moon Hyung-bae judged that the fast-track process was legitimate.

This was already anticipated.

It will continue to be anticipated.

In the month following the April 15 general election,

125 election invalidation lawsuits were filed nationwide,

and evidence preservation was executed for ballot boxes in 31 constituencies.

However, recounts have not yet been conducted anywhere.

Why is it taking so long?

If the judiciary’s capture by power is the completion of dictatorship,

our country has already become a dictatorship.

Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo, be ashamed as the head of the judiciary.

Aren’t you afraid of how you will be recorded in judicial history?

Judgments that lose neutrality are nothing but ‘violence’ disguised as judgments.

□ Why are you trying to oust ‘our chief’ Yoon Seok-youl?

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl made great contributions to investigating the previous regime’s deep-rooted evils,

greatly contributing to the launch of this administration.

So much so that the president affectionately called him ‘our chief.’

However, the president seems to have misunderstood Prosecutor Yoon.

As Yoon continued investigations into powerful figures such as former Minister Cho Kuk and election manipulation in Ulsan mayoral election,

the ruling party suddenly turned against him, labeling him a bad prosecutor and rushing to oust him.

Minister Choo Mi-ae has been relentlessly suppressing Prosecutor General Yoon,

and President Moon’s university junior Lee Seong-yoon, head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, seems to have the backing to dare to ‘gang up’ against the Prosecutor General.

This is likely to show that anyone who touches their weak points will not be spared.

Has there ever been a regime that so ruthlessly persecutes the Prosecutor General, the highest symbol of public authority, in front of the entire nation?

Is this the rule of law in the Republic of Korea?

To hold them accountable, the United Future Party and the People’s Party jointly submitted an impeachment motion against Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae.

This is to protect the rule of law in the Republic of Korea.

We ask sensible Democratic Party members to join us in protecting the rule of law.

□ The Republic of Korea is not the country of one president

Dear citizens!

The people have the right to know about the content of South Korea’s security policy.

At the 2018 Panmunjom Summit,

the Korean people have no knowledge of what promises President Moon made to Chairman Kim Jong-un.

What promises were made that even Kim Yo-jong reacted strongly, saying “South Korea has broken its promises”?

What exactly was promised?

The Republic of Korea is not the country of one president.

Even the president should not unilaterally decide North Korea policy.

While ignoring North Korea’s nuclear armament strengthening

and neglecting alliance management essential for national survival,

Russian and Chinese military aircraft frequently appear over Dokdo airspace and the southeastern Korean Air Defense Identification Zone near Jeju.

Where is our security and diplomacy truly heading?

We are not advocating war.

We ask for a North Korea reconciliation and cooperation policy that protects the pride of the people based on strong security.

For the past three years, this administration has made a fuss as if true peace had come to the Korean Peninsula through the peace process.

But the destruction of the Kaesong Industrial Complex and the inter-Korean liaison office,

and North Korea’s unmentionable mockery and humiliation,

have completely shattered that illusion.

North Korea’s destruction of the inter-Korean liaison office is an act of aggression against the Republic of Korea.

Is the president’s only response to such a serious matter “disappointing”?

Even though failed policies should be changed,

the recent personnel appointments in the unification and security line seem to repeat and strengthen the failed policies,

causing great concern among the people.

In particular, the National Intelligence Service is the top national security agency conducting global intelligence warfare that determines the survival and prosperity of the Republic of Korea.

However, the president seems to regard the National Intelligence Service merely as a channel for North Korea negotiations.

Otherwise, how could he nominate a person with no expertise and who served a prison sentence for illegal North Korea remittances as the head of the National Intelligence Service?

□ ‘Moon Jae-in Economy’ had already failed before COVID-19

Dear citizens!

The ‘Moon Jae-in economy’ had already failed before COVID-19.

The pain has only worsened due to COVID-19.

Nominal growth rate, ranked 9th among OECD countries in 2016,

fell 27 places in three years under the Moon administration, ranking 35th out of 36 countries.

Both the number of unemployed and the unemployment rate

have reached the highest levels since 1999.

The economic failure has been patched up with the people’s taxes and debts passed on to future generations.

Even the dam of fiscal soundness is collapsing.

Under the Moon administration, national debt increased by 370 trillion won,

and even the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, responsible for the national treasury, warns that national debt will exceed 1,000 trillion won by the end of the administration.

This year, national debt has already surged to 43.5%, exceeding the 40% threshold.

Didn’t the president say during his time as Democratic Party leader that national debt should not exceed 40%?

But now it has greatly exceeded that line.

What will you do?

We must not pass on huge debts to the next government and future generations anymore.

The administration has less than two years left,

but the Republic of Korea must continue forever.

□ Moon Jae-in’s real estate measures,

fire the economic team and the president must apologize

During the 9 years of the Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye administrations,

the median price of apartments in Seoul rose by 26%,

but under the Moon administration, it surged 52% in just three years.

Comparing 26% rise over 9 years to 52% rise over 3 years,

it is six times the rate in the same period.

Despite the Moon administration’s 22 real estate measures,

housing prices continue to soar.

Yet Minister Kim Hyun-mi says “the policy is working well,”

and ruling party members say “housing prices won’t go down even with that,”

which infuriates the people.

Ordinary people work hard to buy a home, which is their lifelong dream,

but housing prices soar and loans are restricted,

leading to cries of ‘Eolsangjipmang’ (a Korean slang meaning ‘life is ruined because of housing’).

When they barely manage to buy a home,

they are bombarded with heavy comprehensive real estate tax and property tax,

and even capital gains tax is planned to be raised,

so is owning a house a crime?

Meanwhile, high-ranking officials have made huge profits from prime land apartments,

causing anger and a sense of deprivation among the people.

The Moon administration’s stubbornness, which regards the normal demand of ordinary people for good environments and homes as unhealthy desire and greed and tries to suppress it, has led to the failure of real estate policies.

Ideology and incompetence cannot beat the market.

This administration’s policy is to strengthen regulations and suppress supply.

The solution is deregulation and expanding supply.

Despite soaring housing prices,

Minister Kim Hyun-mi and the economic team do not even realize what is wrong.

They must be dismissed immediately,

and the president must apologize directly to the people.

□ Moon Jae-in administration’s energy policy

is going backward from the 4th Industrial Revolution

The Moon administration’s insistence on nuclear phase-out is self-harm for Korea.

They have hammered the national energy policy, which is a 100-year national plan,

without national consensus or proper procedures,

and remain unmoved.

Even Japan, which experienced the Fukushima nuclear accident,

is continuing new nuclear power plants,

Taiwan and Sweden are also changing policies to increase nuclear power again,

but only Korea insists on nuclear phase-out and solar power.

The solar power business is ravaging mountains and fields nationwide,

covered with Chinese-made panels.

‘Green New Deal’ and ‘Digital New Deal’ will require enormous amounts of electricity,

so is it reasonable to say that a mere 30% power reserve rate is sufficient?

With the 4th Industrial Revolution expanding industries that consume a lot of electricity such as electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, and data centers,

explosive growth in energy demand is expected.

How do you plan to meet the energy demand of the 4th Industrial Revolution?

KEPCO, which used to generate 2-3 trillion won in annual surplus,

recorded a deficit of 1.3566 trillion won last year due to the nuclear phase-out policy,

making electricity rate hikes inevitable soon.

The repeated delays in the Board of Audit and Inspection’s audit results on the economic evaluation of Wolseong Unit 1 are to prevent the exposure of the administration’s reckless nuclear phase-out policy, aren’t they?

It is time to admit mistakes and abandon the nuclear phase-out policy.

After this administration ends, those involved in the reckless and illegal nuclear phase-out policy will be held legally accountable.

□ ‘Zero irregular workers’ policy has returned as the ‘Incheon Airport Public Corporation incident’

On June 22, Incheon International Airport Corporation announced plans to convert security guards to regular workers.

The ‘zero irregular workers’ policy, which began when the president visited Incheon Airport three days after his election in May 2017,

is now questioning the values of fairness and equal opportunity in our society again.

Why are only companies visited by the president granted regular worker status,

while others are discriminated against?

Where should the deprived opportunities of young people who have been preparing for employment day and night amid brutal youth unemployment be compensated?

Did the president foresee these problems and still proceed,

or was he caught off guard by unforeseen events?

While it is good for irregular workers to become regular workers,

didn’t you know that policies and the world are not that simple?

□ The National Assembly must become a ‘properly’ working legislature

The Democratic Party, relying on numerical superiority, insists on a working National Assembly that does whatever it wants.

They want to step on the accelerator for three years of backward driving that is turning the country upside down.

The problem is not speed but direction.

How flawed was the Public Official Election Act that the Democratic Party pushed through with speed?

Do they feel nothing?

Do they want a rubber-stamp National Assembly?

Since the Constitutional Court began in 1987,

there have been as many as 350 unconstitutional rulings,

and 45 unconstitutional rulings in the past four years alone.

Our National Assembly should be truly ashamed and reflective.

I think we should create special committees such as the Budget and Accounts Special Committee and the Legislative Special Committee

to strengthen constitutional review, legislative conflict prevention review, and regulatory review.

Establishing a systematic and textual review body under the Speaker of the National Assembly is a very wrong idea that infringes on the inherent rights of members of the National Assembly.

□ We will build this kind of country

Dear citizens!

The president said he would create a ‘country where the people are happy’

and a ‘country where my life improves,’ but

the people are increasingly filled with frustration and anger.

The only thing kept from the president’s inaugural speech is

‘a country never experienced before,’ as the people cynically say.

In the past three years of the Moon administration,

we will expose all that hypocrisy,

and now we will build a proper country.

Based on strong security,

we will lead North Korea’s denuclearization and induce openness and dialogue.

We will remove interventions and regulations

so that the economy can operate according to market principles.

We will create a ‘growth discourse with distribution,’

not a dichotomy between ‘growth discourse’ and ‘distribution discourse.’

We will protect the dreams of ordinary people to own a home.

We will build a country where women can feel safe and happy,

and where young people can nurture dreams and hopes.

We will build a country where all regions develop evenly

and no region is discriminated against.

We will build a country where everyone has equal opportunities

and can achieve according to their efforts.

With responsibility and dedication, we will realize the values of liberal democracy and market economy,

and as a responsible party that protects the foundation of the Republic of Korea,

our United Future Party will be reborn.

Please watch over us and support us.

Thank you for listening.

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