Professor Paik Nak-chung, on Yoo Si-min's criticism: “Power Struggle,” Catholic Justice and Peace Solidarity Issues Support Statement

Professor Paik Nak-chung posted a thank-you note on Facebook regarding the Catholic Justice and Peace Solidarity's statement of support. Professor Paik stated his position, saying, “The Catholic Justice and Peace Solidarity has issued a statement of support. I am grateful.”

Currently, in South Korean society, opinions among intellectual groups are sharply divided regarding Professor Paik Nak-chung's views on writer Yoo Si-min's criticism.

While policy criticism from non-mainstream factions within a democratic party is necessary, writer Yoo Si-min's criticism goes beyond simple critique to a de facto declaration of a power struggle, Professor Paik Nak-chung stated. He acknowledged the need for non-mainstream groups in democratic parties but emphasized that criticism and power struggle are different.

The current criticism appears as personal attacks and causes division among supporters rather than policy competition.

Professor Paik Nak-chung pointed out that if current critique prioritizes calculating the direction of the next power rather than the president's success, it cannot be considered healthy non-mainstream politics. He referred to such critique as a power struggle disguised as criticism.

This type of critique is criticized as a form of power struggle that focuses on the direction of the next party leadership, regardless of the success of the Lee Jae-myung government.

In its statement of support, the Catholic Justice and Peace Solidarity redefined the meaning of 'transformative centrism' and expressed support for the Lee Jae-myung government's direction of centrist pragmatism. They defined centrism not as an arithmetic middle ground between left and right, but as a political method to create the broadest possible civic solidarity for actual societal change.

This statement emphasizes that the centrist pragmatism pursued by the Lee Jae-myung government goes beyond merely compromising between left and right, aiming for actual social transformation.

This aligns with the concept of transformative centrism that Professor Paik Nak-chung has emphasized and serves to bolster the Lee Jae-myung government's policy direction amidst the current debate.

Numerous critical comments from some supporters of writer Yoo Si-min were posted on the Catholic Justice and Peace Solidarity's Facebook post. The presenter directly accessed Facebook and confirmed the comments, noting that followers of writer Yoo Si-min actively posted comments disparaging the statement.

This behavior is closer to blind criticism than collective intelligence, raising concerns that allegiance to a specific individual can hinder rational discussion.