Kukim 'Presidential Election Rejection' vs Minju 'Neglecting Livelihood'... Local Election Frame War Begins

Kim Ki-hyun "Blocking the Success of the Yoon Government
Rather Hoping for Its Failure"
Sharply Criticizes President Moon and the Democratic Party

Yoon Ho-jung "Promised Compensation for Losses
But Only Talks About Moving After Election"
Kim Byung-joo Continues to Claim "Costs 1 Trillion"

Mobilizing Supporters Ahead of Election

Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, is delivering opening remarks at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 22nd. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee, Juyoun Oh, Hyunji Kwon] The power struggle between President Moon Jae-in and President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol over the relocation of the presidential office has spilled over into the political arena between the ruling and opposition parties. On the 22nd, the People Power Party sharply criticized the ruling party and the Blue House, calling it an "act of refusing to accept the presidential election results," while the Democratic Party countered by labeling it "disconnected politics ignoring people's livelihood." Both parties are expected to raise their voices of criticism against each other even more as they need to consolidate their support bases ahead of the local elections in June.

Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at the party's floor strategy meeting that day, "(The Moon administration) is blocking the success of the Yoon Seok-yeol government and rather hoping for its failure," adding, "It seems to be an issue raised for the sake of opposition, hoping that their supporters will not scatter but unite in the June local elections." He continued, "The public sees Moon Jae-in and the Democratic Party, who still cannot break free from old habits of obstruction while talking about political reform in front of the people, as refusing to accept the presidential election results. The people will likely judge that they have hindered people's livelihood and undermined fairness and common sense for five years and are now acting petty and embarrassing even at the end of their term," expressing concern. He emphasized, "Although there is no way to force the Blue House if it refuses, our People Power Party will immediately allocate a budget upon inauguration to steadily promote policies to move away from the Blue House, authoritarianism, and the imperial presidential system."

There was also criticism regarding the fact that the cost of relocating the presidential office was not submitted as an agenda item at the Cabinet meeting. Seong Il-jong, a member of the National Defense Committee and the party's secretary, said at the meeting, "The regime that blew up the Kaesong office, which involved 75 billion KRW of South Korean assets, and flattered North Korea by denying that its hypersonic missile was a hypersonic missile, is now obstructing the submission of 49.6 billion KRW to the Cabinet meeting. What kind of mindset is this?" He criticized, "Do not bind the new government’s start with absurd nitpicking. Refusing is an act of refusing to accept the presidential election results."

Yoon Ho-jung, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 22nd and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

Counterarguments were also raised regarding concerns about security gaps due to the Blue House relocation. Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, appeared on a radio show that day and said, "The real security gap is when North Korea fires missiles but we cannot call them missiles, or when we cannot conduct joint South Korea-U.S. military exercises because we are watching other countries’ reactions," adding, "It is strange to say that the relocation of the presidential office causes a security gap. Why did you say before that you wanted to move to Gwanghwamun? Is it okay if I do it but a security gap if others do?" he retorted.

Yoon Ho-jung, floor leader of the Democratic Party (co-chair of the emergency committee), criticized at the morning floor strategy meeting, "Is moving the presidential office more important than people’s livelihood?" He pointed out, "During the election, they talked as if they would immediately provide 50 trillion KRW in compensation for losses and 10 million KRW in quarantine support, but after winning, all they talk about is moving," and criticized, "Compared to the president-elect announcing a roadmap from the design to the relocation of the office, the recovery of the people’s livelihood and economy is moving at a turtle’s pace, which is deplorable." Kim Seong-hwan, chairman of the Policy Committee, also said, "The relocation to Yongsan has become practically difficult immediately after Yoon’s inauguration," adding, "Still, pushing forward with the relocation plan makes it seem like he is acting like a prince during his candidacy, which is regrettable."

Kim Byung-joo, a Democratic Party lawmaker and former four-star general who claimed that the cost of relocating the presidential office would exceed 1 trillion KRW, emphasized on a radio show that day that the estimate was not excessive. He said, "(The transition team) said it would cost 120 billion KRW to relocate the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but that is just one of more than ten units," adding, "Even then, it cost 172 billion KRW to build the Joint Chiefs of Staff building 10 years ago. Now it costs at least 220 to 300 billion KRW." He added, "The 1.1 trillion KRW I estimated only includes the building and does not include the costs for fences and security facilities, so it will cost much more."

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