Writer Yu Si-min. [Yonhap]
Writer Yu Si-min. [Yonhap]

Yu Si-min, a prominent pro-government commentator and former chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, said "the lower a president's approval rating, the higher the likelihood of failing to achieve what was originally set out to do," adding that "in extreme cases, they may not complete their term — as with Park Geun-hye or Yoon Suk Yeol."

Yu made the remarks during an appearance on the YouTube channel "Park Si-young TV," according to Yonhap.

Yu also renewed criticism of President Lee Jae Myung, saying, "The Yoon Suk Yeol beetle dismantled its own home entirely — and the current government and President Lee are doing exactly the same."

Yu invoked the classical concept of "gunju minsu" — the idea that the people are water and the ruler is a boat — saying, "When popular sentiment reverses course and surges, the boat can capsize," and that "what this indicator tells us is that the president does not enjoy the trust of many citizens."

On the Rebuilding Korea Party, Yu analyzed that the recent uptick in its polling numbers reflects a shift in public perception — from viewing the party as an icebreaker to seeing it as a lifeboat for the progressive camp. "People are unhappy with the Democratic Party's direction and, sensing a shipwreck, are thinking of switching to the lifeboat," Yu said.

On approval ratings for Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok, Yu said "there were almost no incentives for people to say he was doing well."

"During the party leadership race, he branded his opponent a divisionist and a Shincheonji follower — and still only got half the votes," Yu said. "Kim already lost half of the party's base during the national convention. The current numbers simply show he has made no improvement since then."

Yu said "the most important thing the Democratic Party leadership must do is restore the coalition," adding that "the president has dismantled the very coalition that made him president. I am not even sure he has the will to rebuild it himself."

"Someone must exercise political leadership at a time like this — and that is supposed to be the party leader," Yu added. "The party leader must reunite the fractured coalition and rebuild it into what it was when we overcame the insurrection alongside President Lee and won the change of government."

Defamation case over President Lee closed without referral

Writer Yu Si-min. [Yonhap]
Writer Yu Si-min. [Yonhap]

Yu had previously made critical remarks about President Lee on earlier occasions.

Police investigated Yu on charges of defaming the president and recently decided not to refer the case to prosecutors after Lee indicated no wish to press charges.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation Unit's public crime investigation team announced Tuesday that it had closed the case against Yu — who faced defamation charges under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection — with a finding of no grounds for prosecution.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency received written confirmation from Cheong Wa Dae on Friday that Lee did not wish to pursue punishment.

On Sept. 22, Yu appeared on the YouTube channel of media outlet Media Today and criticized Lee, saying, "The prosecutorial reform the president had in mind was completely different from what we envisioned — the Democratic Party's position, what was described as the president's campaign pledge." Yu added, "The president has been deceiving the people all along."

Regarding Lee's remarks at a press conference — in which the president said the maximum scope of prosecutorial reform envisioned was separating the investigative and prosecutorial functions within the Ministry of Justice — Yu said, "I have never once heard anything like that."

In response, a civic group called Citizen Action for Judicial Justice filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, accusing Yu of defamation through the posting of false information under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.

Defamation is classified as a crime that cannot result in criminal punishment if the victim expresses a wish not to press charges.


yul@heraldcorp.com