Choi Jae-sung: "For Election Defeat, Yoon Must Deliver a Message... During Moon's Time, Chief Political Secretary Was Replaced and Prime Minister Resigned"

Former Senior Secretary Choi Jae-sung KBS Radio Interview
"Kim Tae-woo Pardon and Nomination... Voters Cast Judgment Vote"

Regarding the ruling party's significant defeat in the by-election for the Mayor of Gangseo District in Seoul, former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Choi Jae-sung emphasized that "President Yoon Suk-yeol must deliver a message to the people."

Former Secretary Choi appeared on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs' on the 16th and said, "The ruling party is contesting the election based on the evaluation of the government's administration and the president's governance. If the evaluation is good, they win; if the evaluation is bad, they lose."

Choi Jae-sung, former Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Blue House. Photo by Yonhap News

He continued, "Isn't it the case that they are turning the by-election for one district mayor, caused by the pardon of Kim Tae-woo and candidate nominations, into a nationwide election?" He added, "But the people cast a judgment vote, and naturally, since this election is a judgment by public sentiment against the president's office and the president himself, a message must be delivered."

Former Secretary Choi said, "In the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election, the Democratic Party lost, and President Moon Jae-in issued a message saying, 'We solemnly accept the people's reprimand.'" He added, "Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Choi Jae-sung was replaced, and on the same day, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun submitted his resignation." He further explained, "The president showed responsibility to the people through his message, appointed a new Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, and accepted the resignations of the senior secretary and the prime minister, apologizing to the people and taking action."

The April 7, 2021 Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections were held following sexual harassment scandals involving former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don. At that time, the ruling Democratic Party ran candidates despite party rules stating they should not, resulting in a crushing defeat.

Former Secretary Choi said, "The Seoul mayoral election at that time was also expected to be a crushing defeat," adding, "It was an evaluation of the government, and since the voters judged accordingly, after the election defeat, it is not only the party that issues messages or takes action, but as the ruling party, the president must do so."

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