Choo Mi-ae's 'Riding on Factions' Remark Sparks Backlash, Likened to Pre-Impeachment Vibe of Roh Moo-hyun

[Anchor]

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae, a senior member of the Democratic Party, recently remarked that President Lee Jae-myung is walking on eggshells while riding on the forces of internal rebellion. In response, Democratic Party Leader Kim Min-seok strongly criticized Governor Choo, comparing the situation to the atmosphere that led to the impeachment of former President Roh Moo-hyun.

Here is reporter Go Jeong-hyeon.

[Reporter]

Following Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae's remark that President Lee Jae-myung is walking on eggshells while riding on the forces of internal rebellion, pro-Lee Jae-myung lawmakers in the Democratic Party poured out harsh reactions, telling her to "focus more on her duties as governor" or calling it "extreme language that she might have hurled at former President Yoon Suk Yeol."

Democratic Party Leader Kim Min-seok mentioned the following, stating, "People will not think this is a remark coming from a senior member of the party."

[Kim Min-seok / Democratic Party Leader : It feels like a precursor to the situation where internal and external forces joined forces to attempt an impeachment during former President Roh Moo-hyun's first year of stabilizing his administration...]

However, within the pro-prosecution-reform hardliner faction of the Democratic Party, voices are growing louder demanding the resignation of Kim Ji-yong, nominee for the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency chief, citing reasons such as his inclusion in a 2020 statement opposing the disciplinary action against then-Prosecutor General Yoon Suk Yeol.

[Chung Cheong-rae / Democratic Party Lawmaker : Is it right for someone who opposed the separation of investigation and indictment and prosecution reform to come in as the chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency?]

Former Rebuilding Korea Party Leader Cho Kuk joined in, stating, "Representative Kim Min-seok brought up the impeachment of former President Roh Moo-hyun to criticize Governor Choo Mi-ae," adding, "It is a remark that is of no help whatsoever to President Lee."

Amid growing controversy within the pan-ruling bloc, the presidential office launched additional verification on September 8 regarding nominee Kim, whom President Lee has already nominated.

Multiple presidential officials explained, "This means we are re-examining the issues pointed out by the ruling bloc before submitting the request for confirmation hearings to the National Assembly," and clarified, "This does not mean we are withdrawing the nomination."

Nominee Kim also actively stepped forward to offer clarifications yesterday (September 14), stating, "I was demoted in the first personnel reshuffle after the launch of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, and I have never received preferential treatment just because I am close to a specific individual."

(Photo: Yonhap News) (Video reporting: Shin Dong-hwan, Kim Yong-woo | Video editing: Oh Young-taek, Design: Seohyun Jung)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.