Yoon's 'Jusapa' Remark Not Targeting Specific Individuals, Explains People Power Party District Heads

"Just referring to previous remarks... Not to be used for political strife"
Regarding the ruling party's district organization reorganization plan, "It's excessive for the emergency committee to handle" criticized

President Yoon Suk-yeol is shouting "Fighting" together at the luncheon meeting with the invited non-incumbent party association chairpersons of the People Power Party held on the 19th at the Yongsan Defense Convention Center in Seoul. Photo by seephoto@yna.co.kr [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yunjin] The chairpersons of the People Power Party's (PPP) non-affiliated local party committees explained on the 20th that President Yoon Seok-yeol's controversial remarks about 'pro-North Juche faction' were "general statements." Concerns were raised that the party's emergency committee's announcement to reorganize the local party committees was "not something the emergency committee should be doing."

Earlier, during a luncheon meeting with non-affiliated local party committee chairpersons on the 19th, President Yoon stated, "If you sympathize with liberal democracy, whether progressive or left-wing, cooperation and compromise are possible, but the Juche faction that follows North Korea is neither progressive nor left-wing. Cooperation with hostile anti-state forces is impossible." This remark became a hot topic. The Democratic Party strongly opposed, saying, "(Kim Moon-soo) the Chair of the Economic, Social and Labor Council called a former president a Kim Il-sungist, and now President Yoon is slandering the main opposition party as a pro-North Juche faction."

The PPP local party committee chairpersons who attended the luncheon on the 20th stated in media interviews that "this is not a statement to be used for political strife." They explained that the expression was mentioned only in response to remarks made by local party committee chairpersons. This aligns with President Yoon's explanation on the morning of the same day, when he said on his way to the Yongsan Presidential Office, "It was not directed at any specific individual."

Kim Jaeseop, Chairperson of the Seoul Dobong-gap local party committee, appeared on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs' and said, "After all individual local party chairpersons finished speaking, the president made closing remarks responding to each of their comments," adding, "During his remarks, he mentioned, 'However, as you said, the pro-North Juche faction is not a subject for cooperation.' It came up while referring to previous remarks, not in the context of the president suddenly saying, 'From now on, the pro-North Juche faction must be eradicated.'"

Cheon Haram, Chairperson of the Jeonnam Suncheon-gap local party committee, also said on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that "One person made a somewhat strong remark, but there was no particular agreement or follow-up statement," and "For example, it was not said that someone from the Democratic Party is a pro-North Juche faction. It sounded like a general statement."

Jin Suhee, Chairperson of the Seoul Seongdong-gap local party committee, appeared on YTN Radio's 'News King with Park Ji-hoon' and drew a line, saying, "The atmosphere was not that serious. It is not something the opposition party should use as a political issue."

Meanwhile, concerns were raised about the mention of 'local party committee reorganization' at the luncheon meeting. The PPP emergency committee is known to plan to recruit chairpersons for local party committees in a vacant state and replace some chairpersons through party audits after the national audit ends early next month. Emergency Committee Chairperson Jeong Jin-seok stated, "We judge that we cannot hold the party convention without filling the 68 vacant local party committees."

The local party committee chairpersons evaluated the announced party audit as "not something the emergency committee should do." Chairperson Kim said, "Eventually, when a new leadership comes in, another party audit will be conducted. Party audits are one of the best means to stabilize the system," adding, "Since the emergency committee is likely busy managing the emergency situation, conducting a party audit now seems a bit abrupt."

There was opposition to the claim that local party committee reorganization is a necessary measure for the party convention. Chairperson Jin said, "Since all party members exist, the logic that the party convention cannot be held just because one chairperson is absent seems off," adding, "Unlike in the past, the situation where local party members follow the chairperson because they appoint their people no longer exists. Reorganizing local party committees for such reasons can cause many misunderstandings."

Criticism was also mentioned that the party audit could be a measure for 'lining up pro-Yoon factions' and 'weeding out anti-Yoon factions.' Chairperson Cheon explained, "Frankly, during the internal party convention, it doesn't matter much whether there is a local party committee chairperson or not. Now, party members vote via mobile and ARS," and pointed out, "If local party committee chairpersons are appointed just before the party convention, it could be misunderstood as an attempt to help a specific faction."

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