"Yoon Called for Freedom 36 Times but Not Realized in the Party"...Former Emergency Committee Chairman Scolds with a Rod

Professor Kim Byung-joon, Appointed as Emergency Committee Chairman of Liberty Korea Party, Delivers a Sharp Rebuke

Former Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, Kim Byung-joon, is being interviewed by Asia Economy on the 30th. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kwon Hyun-ji] "President Yoon Suk-yeol mentioned freedom 36 times in his Liberation Day speech. So why is the freedom he shouted 36 times not being realized within the party?"

As the People Power Party, which is experiencing internal strife amid the 'Lee Jun-seok incident,' recently shifted to an emergency committee system, Kim Byung-joon, honorary professor at Kookmin University and former emergency committee chairman of the party's predecessor, the Liberty Korea Party, delivered a sharp rebuke to the party on the 24th.

At a party study meeting called 'Innovation 24 New Future,' led by lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun at the National Assembly, he criticized, "The president's (freedom-related) cries and messages are not being conveyed," adding, "They are not being conveyed to the party, the presidential office, or the cabinet."

Professor Kim referred to the recent controversy over the 'age 5 school admission issue,' saying, "Such proposals would not arise based on liberal principles," and criticized, "Whether it is age 5 or 6, only the freedom to enroll should be granted, and the choice should be left to the parents. So why is the president's principle not being applied in the cabinet?"

Professor Kim emphasized that the freedom President Yoon spoke of is a 'regime change.' He said, "The reason why President Yoon's 36 mentions of freedom failed to inspire is because the word 'freedom' was used too carelessly," adding, "Nationalism and liberalism were used too frequently, so it lost its impact."

He continued, "The liberalism President Yoon talks about leads to the expansion of individual freedoms," and said, "Based on the awareness of changing times and the innovative capabilities of our people, we must establish new relationships and innovate culture."

He also indirectly criticized the party's shift to an emergency committee and the dismissal of former leader Lee. Professor Kim pointed out, "Within the party, discussions about who becomes emergency committee chairman or what happens to former leaders are all being swept under the rug, but there should be consideration about creating a new frame for a new Republic of Korea and what values our party will hold going forward."

Answering a question from lawmaker Song Seok-jun about the 'party system issue,' he said, "After I served as emergency committee chairman, former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn came as the Liberty Korea Party leader. Both I and former Prime Minister Hwang came from outside and were not party members before becoming leaders. Then former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in and the young leader (former leader Lee Jun-seok) came, but generally, the existing leadership was shaken and failed to gain recognition from party members," adding, "Even the presidential candidate was recruited from outside. This shows the party lacks competitiveness."

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