Rebuilding Korea Party Hits Back at DP's Kim Min-seok over Cho Kuk Criticism: 'Arrogance at Its Peak'

▲ Kim Jun-hyoung, floor leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, speaks during a plenary meeting of party lawmakers.

The Rebuilding Korea Party has launched a counteroffensive against Democratic Party Chairman Kim Min-seok, who criticized Cho Kuk, head of the Rebuilding Korea Policy Research Institute, calling his remarks "the height of arrogance."

Spokesperson Lim Myung-hee criticized Chairman Kim in a commentary released today, saying, "How can a crooked finger cover the whole sky?" She added, "The place pointed to by the fingertip was a petty 'targeting' campaign directed at the Gyeonggi governor, who offered sincere advice on completing prosecutorial reform."

The response came after Chairman Kim appeared on the Democratic Party's YouTube channel earlier today (the 15th) and criticized Institute Head Cho—who had previously taken issue with Kim's remarks—by stating, "When someone points to the sky, you shouldn't just look at the finger."

Previously, Chairman Kim pointed out Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae's criticism of the nomination of Kim Ji-yong as the inaugural head of the Medium and Large Crime Investigation Agency, saying, "At a time when we need to pool our strength, are we heading toward a situation similar to the prelude when outside and inside forces joined hands to try and impeach President Roh Moo-hyun just as he was settling into office?"

In response, Cho had pointed out, "If it goes like this, the notion of 'impeaching Lee Jae-myung' will be spread around," adding, "It is a remark that does not help President Lee at all."

Regarding Chairman Kim's remarks asking, "Are those who might have thoughts of shaking the party from within on an occasion like this simply hoping things go well?" Spokesperson Lim retorted, "How can demands expressing concern over retreating reforms and conveying public sentiment without filters to revive the momentum of state affairs be considered 'shaking the party'?"

She raised her voice further, stating, "The attitude of shutting down blunt advice and dismissing legitimate loyal advice as 'stabbing in the back' is a typical form of 'sycophantic politics' that blinds and deafens the president, cutting off communication with the public."

She added, "Just as you cannot hide the sky with the palm of your hand, you cannot overcome a crisis with petty techniques that go against the waves of public sentiment."

Meanwhile, the Rebuilding Korea Party urged Kim Ji-yong, the nominee for the inaugural head of the Medium and Large Crime Investigation Agency, to step down.

During a general meeting of party lawmakers today, floor leader Kim Jun-hyoung demanded that President Lee re-nominate a candidate for the agency head, stating, "We must put forward a proper figure who aligns with the direction of prosecutorial reform."

The floor leader said, "Please nominate a new figure as the head of the investigative agency who properly understands the spirit and purpose of prosecutorial reform—namely, the complete separation of investigation and indictment—and possesses the will and ability to change the prosecution-centered investigative culture."

Lawmaker Hwang Un-ha also pointed out, "Candidate Kim's personnel selection conflicts with the direction of prosecutorial reform," adding, "It is questionable whether we must necessarily select a person whose commitment to prosecutorial reform raises doubts."

During a National Assembly press conference, lawmakers of the Rebuilding Korea Party also demanded Kim's resignation from candidacy, citing points such as his signing of a joint statement in 2020 opposing disciplinary action against then-Prosecutor General Yoon Suk Yeol, and his public opposition in 2022 to the push to abolish the prosecution's direct investigative powers.

They asked, "The inaugural head of the Medium and Large Crime Investigation Agency is a symbol of prosecutorial reform. Which citizens could accept someone who stood at the exact opposite position in the history of prosecutorial reform becoming the head of an agency that symbolizes prosecutorial reform?"

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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