Controversy Over 'Blame-Shifting' in 'Pyeongargi'... President Moon's Continuous Stir Over 'Nurse Encouragement'

Cheong Wa Dae Expresses Displeasure Amid Official Restraint on Response

President Moon Jae-in is presiding over the senior secretaries and aides meeting at the Blue House on the 31st of last month.

President Moon Jae-in's message encouraging nurses over two days has become embroiled in controversy over 'division,' and due to some media reports, it has even escalated into a 'blame-shifting' controversy. The Blue House has refrained from official responses amid the ongoing controversies but has not hidden its displeasure.

The issue began with President Moon posting a message on social networking services (SNS) on the 2nd, saying, "I am grateful for the dedication of nurses who have taken on the burden of doctors on strike." The message was intended to encourage nurses whose workload has increased due to the doctors' strike amid the resurgence of COVID-19. However, voices of criticism arose, accusing the message of 'dividing' doctors and nurses.

Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, wrote on Facebook that day, "President Moon's sowing discord among the people is excessive," and claimed, "He is inciting internal conflict between doctors and nurses because doctors oppose the Moon Jae-in administration's healthcare policies." Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the People Power Party, also said, "After dividing doctors and nurses, who will be turned into enemies next?"

On the 3rd, as the opposition party's 'division' offensive continued, some media outlets reported that the post was written by the Blue House Planning Secretary's Office. Responding to this, Representative Ha said, "The president is truly pathetic," adding, "When praised, he says he wrote it himself, but when criticized, he blames his secretaries."

He continued, "Whether the president wrote it or the secretaries drafted it, official words and statements are entirely the president's," and "The responsibility lies with President Moon, who gave the final approval, and it should not be blamed on the secretaries."

Independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo also chimed in, saying, "He used to say he wrote the Facebook post himself, but now they say the secretary posted a message dividing doctors and nurses," adding, "President Moon must be very fortunate. When it's advantageous, he says 'I did it,' and when it's disadvantageous, he says 'the secretary did it.'"

Former lawmaker Min Kyung-wook posted a photo of an interview article from when Democratic Party lawmaker Go Min-jung was a Blue House deputy spokesperson, stating that "President Moon writes SNS posts himself," and said, "There is a limit to covering lies with more lies."

President Moon Jae-in is presiding over the 1st Korean New Deal Strategy Meeting at the Blue House on the morning of the 3rd.

In this regard, the Blue House is not making an official response. However, a key Blue House official said, "We cannot confirm the process or the author of the president's SNS messages," but added, "Whether it's a message encouraging nurses or the August 15 presidential message, once it is announced as a 'presidential message,' it is not a secretary's speech but the president's speech." This was an indirect expression of displeasure over the 'blame-shifting' controversy. The official also emphasized that some media reports are factually incorrect.

The ruling party actively defended President Moon and the Blue House. On the 3rd, lawmaker Go Min-jung wrote on Facebook, "There is a fuss about the president's message of gratitude being called divisive," and said, "I was surprised to see it could be viewed that way." She added, "It's like reaching out to a person who has fallen on the street, only to be asked with what intention, and instead being met with anger," and "Should we pretend not to see, or just pass by when someone is hurt? Why has it become so extreme?"

Meanwhile, President Moon, who had lunch with Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon on the 3rd, lifted his remote work status and will resume normal duties on the 4th. On the 1st, Lee visited People Power Party floor leader Joo Ho-young and was accompanied by People Power Party Policy Committee Chairman Lee Jong-bae, who was later confirmed to have been in contact with a COVID-19 positive individual. Both Lee and Lee immediately entered self-quarantine but tested negative on the 4th.

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