[Comprehensive] Yoo Si-min "Progressive Alliance 180 Seats... United Party Distorts Words and Causes Chaos"
Published 15 Apr.2020 07:33(KST)
Updated 15 Apr.2020 07:56(KST)
"Not a Democratic Party landslide but a strong showing by the United Future Party would be met with harsh criticism"
"The 'progressive coalition 180 seats' remark provides conservatives with ammunition... it was unwise"
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Yoo Si-min, chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, claimed that the United Future Party is distorting his remark about the 'progressive coalition's 180 seats.' He also appealed for voter turnout, saying that if today's general election results are not a landslide victory for the Democratic Party of Korea, he would inevitably face harsh criticism.
On the 14th, Yoo said on his YouTube channel 'Yoo Si-min's Alileo,' "If the election result is not a landslide victory for the Democratic Party but shows a strong performance by the United Future Party, I will be stoned to death," adding, "I will be left holding the bag. I have nothing to say."
Regarding his 'progressive coalition's 180 seats' remark, he said, "It was unwise to give the conservatives an excuse to exploit it," and emphasized, "I accept all the criticisms from Democratic Party figures."
He continued, "It was a hopeful expectation that 180 seats for the progressive coalition is not an impossible goal," and pointed out, "The United Future Party is causing a ruckus by distorting my words."
This statement appears to be in response to criticism that Yoo gave conservatives an opportunity to unite by saying on the 'Alileo' broadcast on the 10th, "Including proportional seats, 180 seats for the progressive coalition is not impossible."
Yoo also appealed to YouTube viewers, saying, "You have to save me. To prevent me from being beaten to death, you need to find people around you who are not interested in politics or who cannot even distinguish party names well, and bring them to the polling station to vote."
Regarding the United Future Party's general election strategy, he claimed, "They have acknowledged that they are losing the big picture and are asking for a minimum number of seats as an 'underdog' strategy. The United Future Party, which had been advocating for a judgment on the regime, switched to the underdog strategy starting last weekend."
He added, "They switched based on my 'Alileo (180 seats)' remark. The United Future Party hung banners saying 'Please save us' and bowed on the streets. All conservative media started flooding editorials and columns saying 'The regime is arrogant.'"
Meanwhile, Yoo explained the background of his 'progressive coalition's 180 seats' remark the day before. He appeared on CBS Radio's 'Sisa Jaki Jung Kwan-yong' and emphasized, "I never said that the Democratic Party of Korea would get 180 seats including proportional seats. The progressive coalition includes the Democratic Party, the Together Citizens' Party, the Open Democratic Party, the Justice Party, and the Minsaeng Party."
He continued, "In response to a viewer's question, 'Will the Democratic Party not get 180 seats including proportional seats?' I said, 'It's impossible. It's an excessive desire. But if you vote diligently, isn't it possible for the entire progressive coalition to reach 180 seats?' I spoke as a hopeful statement."
Yoo also said, "If everyone really participates in voting without exception, it is common sense that we could secure 180 seats, which is enough to smoothly proceed with additional budgets for COVID-19 measures under the current National Assembly law," and added, "I don't understand what is arrogant or reckless about expressing hope that the progressive coalition should try to secure as many seats as possible to overcome the national crisis."
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