Yoo Seung-min Criticizes Yoon Repeatedly... Also Urges "Do Not Run"

Yoon Sang-hyun "Crossing the line way too much"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the People Power Party competing for the next party leadership, advised former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, a next party leader candidate who has been continuously voicing 'harsh criticism' toward President Yoon Suk-yeol, to refrain from running, saying "He has crossed the line too much."

On the 29th, Yoon posted on his social media (SNS), "I hope you consider not running for party leader," expressing this view.

He said, "The moment former lawmaker Yoo runs, the party will be engulfed in uncontrollable division," adding, "A fear greater than the 2016 nomination massacre will dominate the party. For the sake of the party and the success of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, I ask Yoo to withdraw his candidacy this time."

He continued, "In 2015, when Yoo criticized President Park Geun-hye by saying 'There is no welfare without tax increases,' some within the party acknowledged that he was speaking rightly. When he was excluded from the nomination in 2016, many supported him, and as a result, he was elected as an independent in Daegu. At that time, he clearly had an image of someone who did not hesitate to speak harsh truths for the conservative regime and the party," and pointed out, "(Now) he seems like someone running for the Democratic Party leadership."

Yoon is also one of the 'New Yoon Core Group' members identified by former party leader Lee Jun-seok. He said, "Former lawmaker Yoo and I have many similarities: economic experts, pro-Park faction, and elected as independents after losing nominations," but added, "The difference is that I opposed impeachment and did not form another party."

Former lawmaker Yoo has been continuously criticizing President Yoon and the 'Yoon Core Group' within the party. On the same day, he said on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "This party convention has become a competition to curry favor with Yoon's heart (Yunshim). The Yoon Core Group members are fighting among themselves," adding, "If the party leader is chosen through that, the public will mockingly say, 'The People Power Party leader is just a slave or servant of President Yoon.'" On the 27th, he also criticized President Yoon's response via SNS, saying, "On the day North Korea's unmanned aerial vehicle violated South Korea's airspace, the National Security Council (NSC) was not even convened."

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