[Anchor]
Remarks by writer Rhyu Si-min, who is known to be pro-government, are becoming a spark for conflict within the ruling camp. Rhyu stated, "It seems President Lee Jae-myung's confidence in becoming a 'president for everyone' was excessive." Prime Minister Kim Min-seok pointedly remarked that Rhyu "needs to exercise restraint."
Reporter Park Jae-yeon has the story.
[Reporter]
Writer Rhyu Si-min, who declared his return to active political commentary after stepping down from his position as a standing advisor to the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation.
Appearing on Kim Ou-joon's YouTube channel last night (June 26), he unleashed a series of pointed remarks directed at President Lee Jae-myung.
[Rhyu Si-min/Writer (Yesterday, Kim Ou-joon's Das Boeida): Moving toward the moderate-conservative side, saying 'everyone is okay with this'—that's great. But the problem is, wasn't the President's confidence excessive?]
Rhyu argues that President Lee is attempting to dismantle the traditions of the Democratic Party under the pretext of becoming a "president for everyone" who embraces moderate and conservative voters.
[Rhyu Si-min/Writer (Yesterday, Kim Ou-joon's Das Boeida): What people wanted was an extension. An extension. But it seems the President wanted to rebuild. To rebuild, you have to tear down the existing building.]
He disparaged those who criticize him, including the pro-Lee faction, by calling them "demolition contractors" and "lawless critics."
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, considered a pro-Lee candidate for party leadership, spoke after attending a workshop for female Democratic Party winners held in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province.
[Kim Min-seok/Prime Minister: There are cases where people criticize the President based on excessive confidence, such as claiming 'I made this President.' There is a need for appropriate restraint.]
Analysts suggest that by mentioning how excessive criticism of a president has led to rebellions in the past, he was sending a warning message to Rhyu.
Within the pro-Lee faction, there was also backlash, with some stating, "It is insulting to disparage the intense first year of the Lee Jae-myung administration as mere excessive confidence."
A Blue House official stated, "It is not something to attach significance to, as Rhyu spoke from the perspective of a commentator."
(Video coverage: Lee Seung-hwan, Video editing: Won Hyung-hee, Design: Kim Han-gil)
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