Hong Ik-pyo, the presidential office's senior secretary for political affairs, on Monday dismissed the so-called "rebuilding theory" of writer Rhyu Si-min, saying "it is the people who decide." Rhyu, who served as health and welfare minister and as a lawmaker during the Participatory Government and has been a key commentator on the pro-government side, had criticized President Lee Jae-myung, suggesting that Lee was attempting a confident rebuild while ignoring calls for renovation.
Speaking on SBS Radio's "Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show" that day, Hong said, "When it is a problem with an individual house, you renovate or rebuild, but when the entire area is the problem, don't you redevelop?" Regarding Rhyu's remarks, Hong also said, "Mr. Rhyu's remarks do have considerable influence, but it is rather difficult to respond to every single comment from one person." He added, "The president always says, 'It seems politicians do politics, but it is the people who do it,'" and said, "I think we need a process of considering what the people want and what is needed to open the Republic of Korea's future, and of listening to the people's opinions rather than arguing among ourselves."
Asked whether he agreed with Rhyu's "rebuilding theory," Hong only answered, "If I react to that here, it becomes a fight again, so at any rate there will be various arguments, and I hope such arguments become a healthy discussion." He continued, "Whether to renovate, rebuild, or even redevelop if necessary — these are various choices that should be judged within that discussion, depending on what the Republic of Korea's future is and what choices, changes, and judgments the Democratic Party must make in the process of the Republic of Korea moving forward." This is interpreted as emphasizing that not only rebuilding but even bolder redevelopment is possible, and that this will be decided by the people's demands rather than by political logic.
Asked his view on YouTuber Kim Eo-jun's analysis of "core support base defection," Hong said, "Approval ratings do not fall in just one direction. They fall among moderates too, and there are cases where the core support base does not respond to polls." He added, "(In that sense) it is partly correct, but this phenomenon should not be seen as a problem of only the core support base or only the moderates."
On the issue of abolishing the prosecution's supplementary investigation authority, Hong explained, "There are two approaches to minimizing the side effects of abolishing supplementary investigation authority. One is to retain part of the supplementary investigation authority while minimizing the side effects of abuse, and the other is to abolish the supplementary investigation authority and compensate for the resulting harm to the public." He continued, "President Lee thought the former approach would help the people, but said the latter is also fine if there are concerns in political circles," adding, "Accordingly, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok organized his position toward the latter."
Regarding the "National Report on the Republic of Korea's Three Mega-Projects for a Great Leap Forward" held that afternoon, Hong introduced that a national strategic investment plan centered on semiconductors, physical AI (artificial intelligence), and AI data centers would be announced.
On the controversy surrounding the Honam semiconductor cluster, he said, "Yongin will continue as Yongin, and investment in the Gyeonggi Province region continues," explaining that existing investment in the metropolitan area would also continue.
He continued, "This is simply the first large-scale investment plan, and while the next plan will not be carried out within the Lee Jae-myung government, Samsung and SK are continuing to prepare additional large-scale investment plans," and said, "We need a process of preparing so that large-scale investment can also be made in other regions next."
To the "corporate arm-twisting" controversy raised by the opposition, Hong countered that it was "far too excessive a political interpretation," saying, "There are sufficient economic benefits, and their own corporate management judgment takes priority."
Regarding the luncheon between President Lee and former President Moon Jae-in scheduled for the first of next month, Hong said, "Social integration, and if necessary, the issue of political integration within the democratic camp, will also be important tasks." Hong said, "The two presidents, as politicians who have experienced ridicule and contempt, share the thought that such things must not be repeated," predicting that this part could also be discussed as a major agenda item.
