President Yoon's Mentor Shin Pyung Faces Harsh Criticism, Pro-Yoon Factions 'Boiling'

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Attorney Shin Pyeong-jae, who has been called President Yoon Seok-yeol's mentor, recently made sharp criticisms of President Yoon, causing discomfort among the pro-Yoon Seok-yeol faction (pro-Yoon faction). Although Attorney Shin said, "I pray daily for President Yoon and his wife," he continues to voice harsh criticisms, including negative forecasts about the ruling party's prospects in next year's general election.

Attorney Shin publicly declared his support for President Yoon during the last presidential election campaign, and President Yoon attended Attorney Shin's book launch to deliver a congratulatory speech, indicating a close relationship.

At that time, President Yoon reportedly said, "When Attorney Shin gives me sharp criticism, my wife always sends me those writings to read." It was from then that the title of 'mentor' was attributed to Attorney Shin. However, recently, a changed atmosphere has been detected as the pro-Yoon faction openly criticizes Attorney Shin.

Lawyer Shin Pyeong (left) and President Yoon Seok-yeol. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The trigger was a post Attorney Shin uploaded on his Facebook on the 2nd titled "Prospects for Next Year's General Election and Future Political Situation." Attorney Shin criticized President Yoon's visit to Seomun Market in Daegu, known as the heart of conservatism, on the 10th, saying, "The Yoon administration is currently excessively focused on courting its core support base, which makes up one-third of the population. That is a sweet swamp."

He also criticized, "There is widespread talk that the Presidential Office is nominating and getting dozens of former prosecutors elected in the general election to serve as the vanguard of the Yoon administration," adding, "This is an extremely shortsighted idea that shows little consideration for the feelings of the people."

Pro-Yoon People Power Party lawmaker Lee Yong expressed displeasure. Lee said that Attorney Shin is pretending to be President Yoon's mentor and warned, "No one has given him the title of mentor, yet he uses it to preach his personal opinions. I will no longer tolerate any more 'Yoon's mentor' Shin Pyeong-jae's creative works."

The pro-Yoon faction seems increasingly uncomfortable with Attorney Shin being called President Yoon's mentor. On the 5th, Kim Byung-min, a Supreme Council member, appeared on CBS Radio's "Park Jae-hong's One-on-One Battle" and said, "I think Attorney Shin's remarks lack consistency. At one point, he was excessively supportive of President Yoon, but at another moment, he says different things," adding, "The title of the president's mentor brought him excessive attention."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The pro-Yoon faction's hostile turn toward Attorney Shin is not unrelated to the 'President Yoon's party withdrawal rumor' that Attorney Shin raised ahead of the People Power Party's leadership election in March. At that time, Attorney Shin claimed, "If Assemblyman Ahn Cheol-soo becomes party leader, President Yoon might leave the People Power Party and form a new party," sparking controversy.

This remark caused a major stir within the ruling party ahead of the leadership election. Since Attorney Shin had been called President Yoon's mentor and there were past cases of presidents leaving their parties, his claim was taken seriously. Some party leader candidates strongly opposed Attorney Shin's assertion. As the fallout did not subside, Attorney Shin eventually resigned from his position as the sponsorship chairman for Kim Ki-hyun, a party leader candidate at the time.

Attorney Shin also clashed with Jang Je-won, a key figure in the pro-Yoon faction and a People Power Party lawmaker. Last month, Attorney Shin expressed the view that Jang should "exercise restraint" regarding rumors of his candidacy for floor leader, but Jang immediately dismissed it, saying, "I am not seeking the position," and Attorney Shin apologized, saying, "That was my fault."

Such repeated expressions of views differing from those of the Presidential Office or key ruling party figures have led to Attorney Shin becoming a target of checks and balances. There is an analysis that the situation where Attorney Shin's personal opinions are interpreted as President Yoon's true feelings has become a burden for the Presidential Office and the ruling party.

In response to Assemblyman Lee Yong's public criticism, Attorney Shin apologized, saying, "My expression was clumsy," but explained, "Whenever the term 'President Yoon's mentor' comes up in media interviews, I have denied it every single time without exception," clarifying that the mentor title was not his own request.

However, Attorney Shin does not seem to mind being called President Yoon's mentor in the media. On the 7th, on CPBC Radio's "Kim Hye-young's News Sympathy," when asked, "If you are not a mentor, what word would you use to describe your relationship with President Yoon?," he said, "During the presidential election process, I gave timely advice to then-candidate Yoon, and that advice was accurate. For example, I persuaded candidate Yoon until 12:20 a.m. to unify with candidate Ahn Cheol-soo, which opened the way."

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