"The fact that people are even talking about Yoon Seok-yeol and Lee Jae-myung's names is what annoys the public sentiment"

Park Won-seok, former Justice Party Policy Committee Chair, "Talking about politics itself is tiring and annoying"
Jang Seong-chul, Public Opinion Center Director, "People are struggling with livelihood, yet they fight and sue each other"
Shaken Ruling Party leadership, Judicial risk in Opposition leadership, Concerns over the regular National Assembly session

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] This year's Chuseok public sentiment showed high fatigue and irritation toward the political sphere, regardless of party lines, to the extent that people avoided mentioning politics altogether. Although the regular National Assembly session is underway, the ruling party's leadership is unsettled due to injunction situations, and the opposition party's leader is facing judicial risks, raising concerns that this will be a challenging National Assembly session.

On the 13th, Park Won-seok, former Policy Committee Chair of the Justice Party, and Jang Seong-cheol, director of the Public Opinion Center, appeared on CBS Radio's Kim Hyun-jung's News Show and reported that the Chuseok public sentiment was cold toward politics. Park said, "Regardless of the ruling or opposition party, people are very tired and irritated just talking about politics, which I think reflects the current public sentiment accurately." He added, "Prices have risen significantly, bank interest rates have increased, COVID-19 is not over yet, and life is very difficult. Although the regime has changed, there is little to be hopeful about." He continued, "Internal conflicts within the ruling party continue, and although Lee Jae-myung was elected as the leader of the Democratic Party, judicial risks immediately followed, leading to rampant lawsuits and complaints in the National Assembly and the proposal of special prosecutor laws. So, just mentioning names like Yoon Seok-yeol or Lee Jae-myung causes irritation, which I believe is the general public sentiment now."

Director Jang said, "To sum up the Chuseok public sentiment, I think it was anger and contempt toward the political sphere," adding, "While people's livelihoods are so difficult, politicians are fighting among themselves, filing lawsuits, and calling for special prosecutors, which goes beyond disappointment to anger and contempt. So, there is an atmosphere where people don't even want to mention politics."

On the last day of the Chuseok holiday, the 12th, travelers are heading home at the Express Bus Terminal in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Concerns were also raised about the situation the ruling and opposition parties face as the regular National Assembly session begins.

Park said, "This regular National Assembly session will be a tough one for the ruling party," explaining, "The special prosecutor law regarding First Lady Kim Keon-hee has been proposed, talks of a state audit are emerging, and it is difficult to expect cooperation from the opposition party on any bills or budgets." He added, "For the opposition party, the investigative blade targeting Leader Lee is approaching moment by moment, making it impossible to avoid an all-out confrontation."

Regarding the launch of the People Power Party's Emergency Response Committee, Park said, "Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok filed four injunction requests. Setting aside other variables, based on the previous court decision and its logical extension, I believe there is a considerable possibility that this injunction will also be accepted." He continued, "If it is accepted, the party may fall into an unknown chaos." He also commented on the upcoming election of the People Power Party floor leader scheduled for the 19th, saying, "If the result produces a floor leader in the manner of the Yoon core faction, I believe that is a path doomed to failure."

Regarding the Democratic Party, he expressed concerns, saying, "There are matters where the Democratic Party can fully respond by claiming Leader Lee's judicial risks are political oppression, and others where they cannot. For example, in the case of the election law, the investigation is somewhat excessive, so they can respond accordingly. However, starting from the Daejang-dong scandal and with more bills to come, it will be difficult to respond in the same way."

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