Rhyu Si-min, a commentator aligned with the pro-Moon Jae-in camp, sharply criticized President Lee Jae-myung, saying he "is heading down a path of inevitable failure." Rhyu, who had previously pointed to Lee's push to broaden his political base through what he called the "reconstruction theory," escalated his offensive by saying the president "is persistently trying to place people he wants in major posts (key positions)."
Rhyu made the remarks on the 15th, appearing on the YouTube channel "Maebul Show," saying, "I don't know whether it's reconstruction or redevelopment, but it may be related to such a plan." As key grounds for this judgment, he cited support for "Myung-pick" (Lee Jae-myung's choice) candidates during the nomination process for Seoul mayor and Gyeonggi governor in the June 3 local elections, as well as the National Assembly speaker election. Regarding the ongoing Democratic Party leadership primary, he also alleged intervention, saying, "The party leader too was a 'Myung-pick.' He just didn't directly say, 'Chung Chung-rae, don't run.'"
Bringing up the "reconstruction theory" he had raised again, he said, "The president seems to want to do this (reconstruction)," adding, "I think it's almost certain." He continued, "Is the Democratic Party such a problem-ridden party that it needs reconstruction? No," and argued, "Reconstruction or redevelopment can all be done, but it must be when the public recognizes the need. Right now, neither a medium-scale nor a large-scale political realignment will succeed."
Rhyu said the result of this approach would be that "the president will be hurt, the Democratic Party will be in a mess, the camp will be blown up, and it is very likely to end in a truly disastrous outcome." As for why Lee is insisting on this approach, he said, "I couldn't reach a conclusion. Because I can't read minds, I can't say."
In particular, regarding the process of prosecution reform, he raised the issue of Lee's responsibility, saying, "The reason it hasn't been achieved even more than a year (after taking office) is that the president does not want a complete separation of investigation and indictment." He added, "Now it's time to draw a conclusion. It's because the president didn't want it, and there can be no other explanation."
Rhyu added, "(Lee) is going this way, and it will now be hard to turn back. We have to accept this as reality," saying, "Let's think about what each of us should do, from the standpoint of the citizens who have supported President Lee until now." This is read as meaning that support for Lee should be withdrawn before discussing future courses of action.
