Choi Jae-hyung and Yoon Hee-sook: "Moon lied about taking responsibility for the people's lives"

People Power Party presidential primary candidates Choi Jae-hyung (left) and Yoon Hee-sook (center) are filming a discussion video titled "The Lives of the People and the Role of the State" at a cafe in Ihwa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 16th. On the right is the moderator, Professor Seo Min from Dankook University. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] Choi Jae-hyung, former head of the Board of Audit and Inspection and a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, met with Representative Yoon Hee-sook to discuss 'the lives of the people and the role of the state.' During this process, they raised critical voices against the Moon Jae-in administration.

On the afternoon of the 16th, former head Choi and Representative Yoon held a dialogue at the caf? 'Second Staircase' in Jongno-gu, Seoul. This caf? is operated as a salon by Jeong Byeong-guk, the People Power Party’s talent recruitment committee chairman.

Regarding the content of the dialogue, a spokesperson from former head Choi’s campaign said, "The Moon Jae-in administration claimed that the state would take responsibility for the lives of the people, but it was all false, and the people suffered the consequences," adding, "Former head Choi and Representative Yoon shared the opinion that in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the state’s role and responsibility should focus on supporting socially vulnerable groups and those left behind in competition, providing a foundation for their recovery." They also agreed that the state should pay particular attention to and foster the pharmaceutical, aviation, and aerospace industries in the COVID-19 era and the Fourth Industrial Revolution era.

Former head Choi attended a lecture on the 11th at 'Myeongbulheojeon Bosuda,' a study group for first-term lawmakers of the People Power Party, where he said, "The government cannot take responsibility for every aspect of the people's lives," and "The idea that the government should take full responsibility for the people's lives is exactly the North Korean system." When controversy arose inside and outside the party over this remark, former head Choi also said, "I think the idea that the government should take responsibility for every aspect of the people's lives has actually been a long-standing political form of psychological torture on the people." Representative Yoon evaluated this remark by former head Choi as "the most meaningful topic in this presidential election."

Before starting the dialogue that day, Representative Yoon said, "Former head Choi raised the question of how far the state should be responsible for the people, and it was unfortunate that many attacks that did not hit the core came in," adding, "It is a question close to an important framework that divides conservatives and progressives. I think it is a very important topic."

Former head Choi responded, "Thank you for packaging such a rough topic into a good product," emphasizing, "In the economic field, (Representative Yoon) is the best in our country, and I feel greatly encouraged thinking 'there is someone who shares my thoughts.'"

However, when asked whether this indicated a 'cooperative relationship,' he drew a line. After the dialogue, at a meeting with reporters, Representative Yoon said, "When this proposal came in, I was worried it might be perceived that way, and since my approval rating is low, I was concerned it might be seen as vertical cooperation, so I usually avoid such things. But I thought the topic itself was one that, as a conservative party, we should show our thoughts to society and awaken that appeal, so I agreed to do it," adding, "Discussing whether we share the same or different opinions on a good topic is an opportunity to create a good political culture." She further added, "Today, I understood the parts where (former head Choi and I) think alike and differ, and I realized again that through more vigorous debates during the primary process, we can become better candidates."

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