Writer Rhyu Si-min sharply criticized President Lee Jae-myung in an appearance on YouTuber Kim Eo-jun's channel. Speaking of President Lee, he said, "Wasn't his confidence excessive?" and pointed out, "What the people who ardently protected and supported President Lee wanted was a renovation, but it seems President Lee tried to do a complete rebuild." His point was that President Lee, in trying to embrace even moderate and conservative supporters after taking office, ended up causing the defection of his core support base.
Appearing on Kim's YouTube channel "Dasbeoida," released on the 26th, Rhyu made these remarks, saying, "The current situation is an autoimmune disease. For about a year, immune cells have not been attacking and defeating bacteria and viruses from outside, but instead attacking the body's own normal cells." He added, "As a result, I diagnose that a metabolic disorder has now appeared."
Rhyu said, "Last fall, when (President Lee) halted deliberation on bills related to the prosecution reform law, I began to worry, thinking, 'This is strange, why is this happening?'" He continued, "After that, for about six months (watching), I lived with the questions, 'What is happening now? What kind of political consequences will these events bring about?' and about two months ago I reached a tentative conclusion." He then explained the reason for his pointed criticism: "As a commentator, I supported the politician Lee Jae-myung for five years, so as a critic representing the camp, shouldn't I give a responsible explanation?"
Rhyu cited the delay in prosecution reform as the first factor in the support base's defection from the current government. He criticized, "In January, the first legislative notice draft came out, and it was (from the support base's view) shocking in content. The president told them to redo it, and the second one came out in March, but it was not much different." He added, "It is impossible for a government legislative notice bill to come out without presidential approval. (As a result), prosecution reform has still not been fully achieved even more than a year into his term."
He continued, "The second is personnel. There is a saying called 'Moon-ka-san-jeom,' which means you get bonus points if you 'bash Moon Jae-in.'" Raising his voice, he said, "Starting with the Minister of Personnel Management, they belittle and mock former President Moon Jae-in, and this is a fact." Rhyu said, "In surveys of preference for former presidents, President Moon only gets about 5%, but (former President Moon's approval) is bound together with that of former President Roh Moo-hyun." He interpreted, "The fact that former President Roh gets 40% and former President Moon gets 5% means there are 5% of people who like former President Moon more than former President Roh." He added, "Combined, it's 45%. If you insult Moon Jae-in, since he is Roh Moo-hyun's friend Moon Jae-in, you are also insulting Roh Moo-hyun." He asked, "Why are they doing this (insulting behavior)?"
He also strongly criticized the disparagement of pro-Moon camp figures represented by the so-called "Moon-jo-teol-lae-yu." Rhyu said, "It was from last December that I too was lumped into 'Moon-jo-teol-lae-yu,' and the attacks began in earnest from March." He expressed his dissatisfaction, saying, "The senior secretary for political affairs said it was the president's wish to merge with the Rebuilding Korea Party before the local elections, but the merger failed, and the Democratic Party nominated a candidate in the Pyeongtaek-eul by-election. What is the meaning of nominating Kim Yong-nam and killing (defeating) Cho Kuk?"
Rhyu said, "A pattern emerged across both online and offline of unconditionally praising the president and indiscriminately attacking anyone who said even the slightest (critical) word about the president." He added, "Since it was too much to handle on their own strength, they even used contractors. I call them 'contractor commentators.'" He argued, "And what was the result? The Democratic Party's approval rating fell less or rose slightly, but the president's approval rating for state affairs is dropping sharply." He claimed, "It means (supporters) are trying to protect the Democratic Party."
Rhyu said, "Why are there only 'yes-men' at the Blue House?" He continued, "Acts of disparaging the former president have been openly carried out inside and outside the party for more than six months, but no one stepped forward to directly (refute) it. Looking at the cultural tradition of the Democratic Party, this is incomprehensible."
However, he described himself as "a fairly good supporter of President Lee," saying, "That feeling has not changed. I hope (President Lee) returns to the mindset of that time, thinking of the hearts of those people who supported Lee Jae-myung and fought alongside him, and starts again. I hope he becomes a successful president," expressing his support.
