Yoo Si-min: "There are people who are happy when in public office, but I'm not one of them"

Writer Yoo Si-min confirmed that he was asked whether he would be willing to take on a public office under President Lee Jae-myung’s government, but stated, "I have made it clear that I have no intention of holding any public office."

No intention of holding any public office

On the 15th, Yoo appeared on the YouTube channel 'Mae-bul Show' and addressed the recent speculation in the political realm regarding the 'rejection of the proposal for Yoo Si-min as Prime Minister.'

Rejection of the proposal for Yoo Si-min as Prime Minister

Yoo explained, "As far as I know, I could have been one of the candidates considered for the Prime Minister position while President Lee Jae-myung was looking for potential candidates," but emphasized, "I have no knowledge of the story that after I declined, they then nominated Kim Min-seok (from the Democratic Party)."

In response to the question, "Did you distance yourself from power to live happily?" Yoo stated, "It is not necessarily true that being in a public office leads to unhappiness, nor is it true that not being in a public office guarantees happiness. It varies from person to person," further questioning, "There are people who need to be in public office to be happy. Look at President Lee Jae-myung; how happy does he seem these days?"

Look at President Lee Jae-myung; how happy does he seem these days?

He added, "I am not the type who derives personal satisfaction even when objectively, serving in a public office is considered rewarding and admirable."

Not the type who derives personal satisfaction

Yoo also mentioned, "I have made up my mind to refrain from political criticism as much as possible," noting that "when I critique, unlike other critics, other critics often respond with criticism and distortion. Sometimes I face criticism from both the People Power Party and the Democratic Party; that has been the hardest part for me."

"I have made up my mind to refrain from political criticism as much as possible"

Regarding this, Yoo referenced the 'derogatory remarks about Seol Nan-young' controversy that arose during the last presidential election. At that time, he was criticized for exposing what appeared to be a 'discriminatory perception against women and workers' while pointing out the actions of Seol, the spouse of the then People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo.

Criticized for revealing a 'discriminatory perception against women and workers'

Yoo remarked, "(In reference to Mrs. Seol) I shouldn't have used the expression 'You are not in your right mind.' That was a lax attitude for someone who critiques," adding, "I spoke as if the idea that relations become uneven if a university-educated worker marries a blue-collar worker was a general theory, but I should have limited it to the specific case of the former candidate and his spouse."

"I shouldn't have used the expression 'You are not in your right mind.' That was a lax attitude for someone who critiques"

He further expressed, "Though I am not a member of the Democratic Party, I always hoped my activities would be beneficial to the Democratic Party, but there are times when it doesn’t happen, contrary to my wishes," stating, "Every time I write a sentence, I feel the need for self-censorship thinking about the risks of it being misused."

"Though I am not a member of the Democratic Party, I always hoped my activities would be beneficial to the Democratic Party, but there are times when it doesn’t happen, contrary to my wishes"

Image Source: Writer Yoo Si-min / youtube '[Podbbang] Mae-bul Show', on the 30th of last month, members of the People Power Party's Daegu electoral strategy committee, Congressman Lee In-seon, local council members from the People Power Party, and female party officials announced a statement condemning Yoo Si-min's derogatory remarks towards women at the Daegu city party's large auditorium in Beomeo-dong, Daegu. / News1, Writer Yoo Si-min / News1