Yoo Seung-min: "North Korea calls it a 'boiled small head'... President Moon's unwavering loyalty is pitiful"

"President Sending Hearts to Kim Jong-un, Citizens Feel Outraged"

The Blue House announced on the 24th that President Moon Jae-in conducted a cover photo shoot for TIME magazine and a video interview in the main office of the Blue House on the 9th. The photo shows the TIME magazine cover (left) and the online article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min criticized President Moon Jae-in on the 24th, calling his description of North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un as "very honest" an "pitiful courtship" toward Kim.

In a post on his Facebook that day, Yoo said, "President Moon praised Kim Jong-un in an interview with the American weekly magazine Time, calling him 'a very honest, passionate person with strong determination.'"

He pointed out, "North Korea mocked President Moon as a 'boiled small head,' 'top idiot,' and 'American parrot,' yet President Moon's one-sided devotion to Kim Jong-un is truly pitiful."

He continued, "For whom are Kim Jong-un's honesty, passion, and determination meant? For the North Korean people? For the citizens of the Republic of Korea? Or is it referring to North Korea's nuclear missiles?" He questioned, "What exactly does the word honesty mean? How does President Moon interpret honesty to say that Kim Jong-un is very honest?"

Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Furthermore, he said, "Despite numerous humiliations, the sight of the president sending hearts to Kim Jong-un is infuriating as a citizen of the Republic of Korea," adding, "Now that the spectacular show of the past four years has ended, North Korea's nuclear missiles have become a real threat, the Kaesong liaison office was blown up, and our citizens have been shot and burned."

Finally, former lawmaker Yoo emphasized, "On the eve of the 71st anniversary of the Korean War on June 25, hearing our president's praise of Kim Jong-un leaves no face to face the spirits of our patriotic martyrs," and "I hope that as the president of the Republic of Korea, he does not trample on the pride of the country and its people."

Earlier, in the interview with Time released that day, President Moon evaluated Kim Jong-un as "very honest, motivated, and showing strong determination," and "well aware of what is happening in the world," among other assessments.

However, Time gave a contrasting evaluation, stating, "Kim Jong-un ruthlessly killed his own uncle and half-brother, and according to the historic 2014 report by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry (COI) on human rights, he led 'crimes against humanity' including extermination, torture, rape, and prolonged famine."

Meanwhile, the interview was conducted via video call on the 9th and featured on the cover of Time Asia edition. It is the first time in 4 years and 2 months since May 2017, just before the presidential election, that President Moon appeared on the cover of the Asia edition.

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