Kim Geun-sik: "Tae Young-ho's Public Demand for Lee In-young's Ideological Conversion Is Misplaced"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Professor Kim Geun-sik of Gyeongnam University, chairman of the Seoul Songpa-byeong party committee of the United Future Party, criticized on the 23rd that the demand for "ideological conversion" made by Representative Tae Young-ho of the United Future Party at the confirmation hearing of Lee In-young, the nominee for Minister of Unification, was a "misguided focus."

Professor Kim said on Facebook that day, "It is natural to publicly question and verify the nominee's views on North Korea, unification, perception of the U.S., and evaluation of Juche ideology at the confirmation hearing for the Minister of Unification," but added, "It is easy to be misunderstood as Cold War-era colorism," expressing this view.

He said, "I also changed my position from supporting the Sunshine Policy to a more cautious stance, moved through the People's Party, and then joined the United Future Party. In the last general election, some hardline conservatives publicly demanded declarations of conversion," adding, "Everyone changes their mind. However, demanding changes in thought through so-called ideological verification or declarations of conversion is no different from a medieval witch hunt."

Professor Kim pointed out, "As a nominee for Minister of Unification, it is necessary to publicly demand an honest expression of what the nominee currently thinks about Juche ideology, the North Korean regime, and South Korea-U.S. relations, unlike in the past," but also said, "It is enough to require the nominee to clarify a North Korea and unification view befitting the Minister of Unification of the Republic of Korea through their own words, and if that position is inappropriate, the opposition party should sharply point it out and rigorously question it."

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