Yoo Si-min Returns to 'Alileo': "Our Society Persecutes Those Who Express Views Different from the Majority"

Yoo Si-min to Return to Broadcasting on the 6th with 'Alileo Books'

Yoo Si-min, Chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation. Photo by YouTube channel 'Saram Saneun Sesang Roh Moo-hyun Foundation' screen capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Yoo Si-min, chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, pointed out on the 6th that "our society persecutes those who express views different from those held by people in power or the majority public opinion."

Chairman Yoo made this remark while appearing on the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation's YouTube channel program 'Alileo Books' in the afternoon, discussing John Stuart Mill's 'On Liberty.' 'Alileo Books' is a book review program that deals with general knowledge books.

Yoo criticized, "They label such a person as someone with a flawed character, someone who speaks recklessly, branding them with terms like outrageous remarks, abusive language, or eccentricity, causing people to be cautious when expressing their inner thoughts."

He continued, "Most of the thoughts we actually have are not created by ourselves but are thoughts we have developed while growing up and living in this society. Most thoughts are conventional wisdom or widely supported common beliefs. However, when expressing views that do not belong to these, the social pressure is frightening."

He added, "This was the case in Mill's era in Britain, and although the degree may vary, South Korea today still remains such a society."

Yoo Si-min, Chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation. Photo by YouTube channel 'Saram Saneun Sesang Roh Moo-hyun Foundation' screen capture.

Additionally, Chairman Yoo stated, "Laws like the National Security Act should not exist when viewed from the perspective of On Liberty."

When lawyer Jo Su-jin, who hosted the program, pointed out that "minority opinions may contain harmful ideas," Yoo responded, "There could be a question of whether we should tolerate 'those kinds of Ilbe-type things' as freedom of expression."

Meanwhile, regarding the reason for planning this season as a book review program, he explained, "If the late President Roh Moo-hyun were still alive, he would probably have done something like this," adding, "He left a message that the organized power of awakened citizens is the last bastion of democracy, and what awakened citizens need is books."

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