President Lee Jae-myung and Kim Yong-tae's First Meeting: Democratic Party Criticizes "Too Busy with Personal Politics"
The spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, Kim Ji-ho, strongly criticized the chair of the People's Power emergency committee, Kim Yong-tae, for being "too busy with personal politics" during their first meeting with President Lee Jae-myung.
Kim, known to be close to President Lee, has served as the secretary of the Gyeonggi governor and as the head of the policy coordination office for the party.
In an interview with YTN Radio on the afternoon of the 23rd, Kim mentioned the luncheon held on the 22nd with the president and the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties, stating, "Around the president, there were strong objections to inviting Kim Yong-tae, as he is not a duly elected representative and has only about eight days left in his term."
Nevertheless, he emphasized that President Lee was the one who initiated the conversation, explaining that the luncheon between the ruling and opposition party leaders was realized by the president's intention.
Kim Yong-tae Expresses Discomfort with His Remarks
Kim later expressed discomfort about Kim Yong-tae's statement, saying, "In a meeting made possible by the president's consideration, Kim asked me to promise that he would be tried after his term," adding, "Did he really have to embarrass the president like that?"
He also asserted, "Once he steps down from the presidency, the president cannot refuse the law, therefore the trial regarding President Lee Jae-myung will proceed according to the law, irrespective of Kim Yong-tae's comments."
Kim criticized the notion that bringing up such topics from the very first meeting reflects a mindset to belittle the president, stating, "It seems like there was a lot of thinking to downgrade him to 'a president but a criminal suspect, nothing more and nothing less.'"
Strong Criticism of "Han Deok-soo's Doppelganger"
Kim pointed out that Kim Yong-tae's remarks are part of an effort to appeal to his support base while vying for the next party leadership position.
He further criticized, "Kim should have resigned due to the responsibility for the presidential election loss, but he is not resigning and continues to make many public appearances in places like Gangwon Province, making me think he is a doppelganger of Han Deok-soo."
Kim also noted, "Han, too, should have resigned due to the responsibility for a rebellion, but instead, he is suspected of improperly using his position as Prime Minister and acting as an acting authority for his presidential campaign; it looks like he is following in Han Deok-soo's footsteps."
Throughout, Kim showed strong criticism by comparing the actions of Kim Yong-tae with those of former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo.
Image Source: President Lee Jae-myung poses for a commemorative photo with the leadership of the ruling and opposition parties before the luncheon held at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, on the 22nd. From left: Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People's Power, Kim Yong-tae, chair of the emergency committee, President Lee, and Kim Byeong-ki, acting party leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. / Photo provided by the Presidential Office, President Lee Jae-myung / Photo provided by the Presidential Office, Kim Yong-tae / News1
