Yoo Si-min's Criticism of Kang Hoon-sik and Kim Min-seok Sparks 'Double Standard' Controversy

Reporter Heo Jae-hyun relayed that Yoo Si-min had said, "He criticized Kang Hoon-sik, Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, in this way. How can a chief of staff give a lecture?" This criticism is analyzed as difficult to avoid accusations of double standards, given Yoo Si-min's different attitude in similar past situations.

Reporter Heo Jae-hyun stated, "Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok, without the President's permission, said, 'Please resign' at the time. Im Jong-seok himself explained all of this later in an interview with SBS after the Moon Jae-in administration ended." This incident was admitted by Im Jong-seok himself through an SBS interview, and the fact that Yoo Si-min remained silent on Im Jong-seok's role at the time is now being contrasted with Yoo Si-min's recent criticisms.

Yoo Si-min criticized Chairman Lee Jae-myung's support for candidate Kim Min-seok as blatant party interference, claiming it betrayed republican principles. However, it was pointed out that in 2005, during the Uri Party's election of Chairman Moon Hee-sang, he did not raise any issues despite 'Roh's will' being at play. Reporter Heo Jae-hyun said, "Has Yoo Si-min already forgotten? How was Moon Hee-sang elected during the Uri Party era? At that time, Moon Hee-sang explicitly campaigned by saying, 'Yes, I am part of the Roh Moo-hyun faction.'" It is argued that Yoo Si-min's current criticism of Kim Min-seok's election is contradictory to his silence on the 'Roh's will' controversy of 2005.

Yoo Si-min's inconsistent critical stance is further fueling the double standard controversy.

He explained, "At that time, Chairman Moon Hee-sang was President Roh Moo-hyun's first chief of staff. And in 2004, after achieving a majority in the general election, and moving into 2005, he went from chief of staff in the Blue House to chairman of the Uri Party, which is like the party leader now." At the time, the media analyzed Moon Hee-sang's election as party leader as a result of 'Roh's will,' and Moon himself campaigned by referring to himself as part of the 'Roh Moo-hyun faction.' It was revealed that Yoo Si-min made no criticism in this situation.

Reporter Heo Jae-hyun pointed out, "It was right then, it's wrong now. What's the reason? He doesn't say. Uh, that's why when I dig into Yoo Si-min's past, there are instances where he keeps contradicting himself." This selective interpretation of past events diminishes the credibility of Yoo's criticisms and highlights inconsistencies.

Reporter Heo Jae-hyun conveyed that Yoo Si-min had stated, "Yoo Si-min compared Lee Jae-myung to Yoon Suk-yeol. The gist of his remarks was that Lee Jae-myung is walking the same path as Yoon Suk-yeol, who replaced his own governing base by expelling People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok." This is an assertion that Lee Jae-myung is harming his own governing base, criticizing by connecting the forced removal of former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok with the Democratic Party's party leader election.

Reporter Heo Jae-hyun stated that comparing Chairman Lee Jae-myung's actions to President Yoon Suk-yeol's regarding Jeong Cheong-rae's defeat to Kim Min-seok in the Democratic Party's leadership election is 'crossing the line.' He said, "Criticism is emerging that comparing Chairman Lee Jae-myung's actions to Yoon Suk-yeol's, simply because candidate Jeong Cheong-rae lost to candidate Kim Min-seok in a party leadership election held through due democratic process, is crossing the line." It is argued that equating the Democratic Party's leadership election, which proceeded through democratic procedures, with the situation of former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok's forced removal, where evidence of President Yoon Suk-yeol's involvement and text messages were found, is unreasonable.

This is a past example that contrasts with Yoo Si-min's current claims of 'party interference' and 'betrayal of republican principles' regarding Kim Min-seok's election, serving as grounds to point out Yoo's inconsistent stance.

Reporter Heo Jae-hyun reported, "Veteran lawmaker Park Jie-won pointed out that Yoo Si-min is disguising internal rebellion and that his comparison of President Yoon Suk-yeol and President Lee Jae-myung is excessive, saying he needs to be prudent." Rep. Park deemed Yoo Si-min's remarks to have gone too far and publicly criticized him.

Former lawmaker Lee Bu-young also appeared on a broadcast and vehemently criticized Yoo Si-min. Reporter Heo Jae-hyun reported, "Finally, former lawmaker Lee Bu-young appeared on a broadcast and fiercely criticized Yoo Si-min. He asked, 'Is the person who ruined the Uri Party going to spread conspiracy theories like that again and ruin this party too?'" Former lawmaker Lee Bu-young raised the issue of Yoo Si-min's responsibility for the Uri Party's past downfall, expressing concern that Yoo's current remarks could again put the party in crisis.

Reporter Heo Jae-hyun stated, "I know that several respected social elders, whose names would be recognized, including Professor Baek Nak-chung, discussed this. They said, 'We cannot leave Yoo Si-min as he is. It's dangerous.' So I understand they are each making remarks in turn." They apparently believe Yoo Si-min's current actions are dangerous and are expressing criticism in their own ways.

Former National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang strongly criticized Yoo Si-min's remarks, labeling them 'intellectual arrogance.' Reporter Heo Jae-hyun relayed that former Chairman Moon said, "What is he talking about? Why isn't the President listening to me? Yoo Si-min is saying that now. It's intellectual arrogance. He seems to think he greatly influenced former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in." Former Chairman Moon emphasized that Yoo's current criticism is not a direct suggestion but an attempt to go a completely different way, and that the responsibility for pioneering a path, whether it's renovation or reconstruction, lies with the President, not with a sideline coach.