Jeon Byung-heon, Saemirae Democratic Party Leader, says Lee Jae-myung's Approval Rating Drop is 'Expected Result'... Criticizes State Management and 'Take Credit, Blame Others' Leadership

Jeon Byung-heon, leader of the Saemirae Democratic Party, stated that President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating falling into the 30% range was an expected outcome, and that the 40% line, considered a psychological and critical barrier, has broken. He predicted that the approval rating would continue to fall, and that the Lee Jae-myung administration would inevitably enter an early lame duck period.

Representative Jeon believed that the decline in approval ratings would continue unless President Lee's monopolistic style of state management changed. He mentioned that public dissatisfaction with state management is escalating.

He also warned that if the approval rating drops below the 35% line, public officials' policy implementation drive would be lost, weakening the state's momentum.

Jeon Byung-heon stated that the current semiconductor boom is not due to President Lee Jae-myung's role or achievements, but rather a global civilizational trend resulting from the rapid expansion and development of artificial intelligence (AI). He pointed out that, on the other hand, the public and working-class economies are worsening.

Representative Jeon mentioned that the current government's real estate tax policy is placing a heavy burden on ordinary citizens, exacerbating the economic crisis. He added that tangible economic achievements are lacking, with a decrease in jobs for those in their 20s and 30s.

Jeon Byung-heon pointed out that there was significant public dissatisfaction and protest regarding the policy that imposed a tax bomb even on single homeowners. He criticized President Lee Jae-myung's joke to the Minister of Economy and Finance to 'crawl' in this situation as an attitude that disregards the suffering and feelings of the people.

Representative Jeon explained that such remarks were perceived as state management ignoring public sentiment, further worsening public opinion.

Jeon Byung-heon pointed out that after the so-called 'Jang Miran incident', the government attempted to downplay it by attributing it to individual police misconduct. He criticized the omission of even minimal condolences or expressions of regret to the bereaved families in the State Council's remarks.

Representative Jeon asserted that the government avoided the essence of the incident and, fearing political backlash, was preoccupied with containing the situation instead of on-site inspections.

He stated that exercising immense power requires corresponding responsibility, and expressing condolences and regret to bereaved families is the minimum courtesy.

Representative Jeon criticized the Presidential Office for only emphasizing the need for police reform, without any expression of regret or condolences to the bereaved families.

Jeon Byung-heon argued that the Democratic Party's decision to grant all investigative powers to the police and completely strip the prosecution of its investigative powers was based on the perception that National Assembly members could manipulate and control the police at will.

He stated that the Democratic Party prevented the prosecution's supplementary investigations, fearing political backlash, and intended to grant National Assembly members extraterritorial status.

Jeon Byung-heon pointed out that it is contradictory for Lee Jae-myung to have directly led the creation of a bill granting enormous power to the police, and now to express doubts about whether the police are an organization worthy of such power. He criticized this attitude as 'psychopathic'.

Representative Jeon criticized Lee for making responsibility-avoiding remarks after actual incidents occurred, prioritizing his own political advantage over the victims of the incidents.

Jeon Byung-heon stated that the current South Korean criminal justice system has fragmented investigative and prosecutorial powers by agency, and even by suspect. He pointed out the negative effects of this adjustment of police-prosecution investigative powers.

Representative Jeon mentioned that there was actually a case where a first-instance sentence of 10 years in prison for a police superintendent's bribery case was overturned to a suspended sentence in the appellate court. He expressed concern that confusion over investigative jurisdiction could lead to cases being invalidated or public prosecution being dismissed.

Jeon Byung-heon criticized Lee Jae-myung's leadership as a 'take credit, blame others' leadership. This means 'I take the credit, you take the responsibility', claiming that while he gained approval ratings by appealing to public emotion, the reality is now being exposed.

Representative Jeon stated that Lee uses governance tactics of avoiding responsibility and blaming others to avert crises. He added that even within the progressive camp, there are voices criticizing this approach.

Jeon Byung-heon stated that there is significant criticism regarding the Democratic Party forming a Police Reform Promotion Team under the pretext of police reform and appointing Assembly member Kim Nam-hee as its head. He ridiculed it as a 'rehash of an organization' and called it laughable.

Representative Jeon pointed out that it is contradictory for someone who previously supported the abolition of supplementary investigative powers to now criticize the police.

He also raised doubts about whether police reform without internal party verification could truly be effective.

Jeon Byung-heon claimed that the Jang Miran incident was a consequence of the adjustment of police-prosecution investigative powers at the end of the Moon Jae-in administration. He warned that the investigative vacuum caused by the abolition of supplementary investigative powers would lead to more serious problems in the future.

Representative Jeon emphasized that the adjustment of police-prosecution investigative powers caused confusion in the judicial system, which could harm citizens.

Jeon Byung-heon strongly criticized President Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party's behavior of pressuring Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae with threats of impeachment. He argued that such actions infringe upon the Chief Justice's independence and disregard the separation of powers.

Representative Jeon characterized the Democratic Party's argument that 'people's sovereignty takes precedence over the separation of powers' as fascist sophistry, pointing out that it is a dangerous idea that undermines the foundation of democracy.

He stated that remarks such as 'You are not even worthy of being called Chief Justice', 'Get out quickly, I won't let you off, I'll impeach you, I'll deal with you' were directed at the Chief Justice.

Jeon Byung-heon analyzed that President Lee Jae-myung's political intentions were behind Assembly member Kim Min-seok's election as the Democratic Party leader. He argued that President Lee likely intended to induce long-term rule or a constitutional amendment for reelection through Kim Min-seok, rather than Assembly member Jeong Cheong-rae, who was inconvenient for him.

Representative Jeon pointed out that even within the camp, figures like writer Yoo Si-min are criticizing President Lee's actions as 'arrogant power'.

Jeon Byung-heon criticized the Democratic Party's contradictory act of simultaneously displaying banners with the slogans 'Democratic Golden Age' and 'Cho Hee-dae Step Down'. He questioned how common citizens with common sense would view such behavior.

Representative Jeon assessed that a political party pressuring and making a mockery of the judiciary is an extreme act of destroying democracy.

Representative Jeon asserted that the Democratic Party's actions undermine the separation of powers and severely infringe upon the values of democracy.

Jeon Byung-heon stated that the Democratic Party's actions can only be seen as an attempt to oust Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae. He criticized such behavior as destroying the separation of powers.

The controversy over Judge Kim Min-ki's attempted appointment as a Supreme Court justice was also mentioned as an act threatening judicial independence.

Representative Jeon warned that these series of events undermine judicial independence and put the system of separation of powers in crisis.

Jeon Byung-heon interpreted former President Donald Trump's social media message as a warning to President Lee Jae-myung. He pointed out that Trump stated the reduction of ROK-US joint military exercises was his direct instruction, not at Lee Jae-myung's request.

Representative Jeon conveyed that Trump made it clear he had no intention of aligning with President Lee Jae-myung, telling South Korea not to interfere in talks with North Korea. This suggests the possibility of South Korea being excluded from North Korea-US relations.

Representative Jeon emphasized that this message is a serious warning about changes in the ROK-US alliance and security crisis. He criticized President Lee Jae-myung's foreign and security policies for failing to adequately respond to these changes in international affairs.

He added that Trump's remarks show that South Korea's position in future Korean Peninsula security issues may weaken, and the current government's diplomatic and security capabilities could come under scrutiny.

Jeon Byung-heon strongly criticized Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek for mentioning the quantity of North Korean nuclear weapons. He stated that North Korea's denuclearization card is an enormous leverage point and an asset of immense value and importance in negotiations with North Korea and in relations with the United States.

Representative Jeon pointed out that this core security asset was undermined without any meaning, warning that it would lead to a judgment on diplomatic and security incompetence.