Writer Yoo Si-min Criticizes Democratic Party 'From Civilization to Barbarism'... Chung Cheong-rae's Nomination Controversy in Background

Writer Yoo Si-min attributed the reason why Honam delivered a wrathful judgment to the Democratic Party in local elections not to policy issues like mega-projects, but to the President's responsibility. However, the host countered that the decisive factor in the Honam public's disillusionment was that former party leader Chung Cheong-rae handled the Honam nominations too arbitrarily. In particular, candidates dubbed 'Chung Cheong-rae's picks' in key areas such as Yeonggwang and Muan became the center of controversy, and some candidates nominated in this process faced police investigations or moral issues. This served as a major cause for exacerbating the dissatisfaction of Honam voters.

Writer Yoo Si-min claimed that he did not reject the President, but rather the President rejected him. He stated that he sensed a change in atmosphere within the Blue House and explained that his subsequent refusal to converse with the President was because he believed it would be an 'meaningless meeting.' Yoo Si-min's perception here can be interpreted as demonstrating his tendency to attribute the Democratic Party's internal problems to external factors.

Writer Yoo Si-min criticized the 'strange, unsophisticated behavior' shown by Democratic Party national assembly members, such as bowing 90 degrees whenever told to, as stemming from the nature of power. He pointed out that all power, regardless of progressive or conservative, has the characteristic of 'monsters awakening when reason sleeps,' and he criticized the Democratic Party's mob-like culture and unsophisticated behavior. However, Newstamsa, while agreeing with Yoo Si-min's criticism, asserted that the real barbarism leading the Democratic Party 'from civilization to barbarism' was former party leader Chung Cheong-rae's 'nomination massacre,' countering that Yoo Si-min's criticism overlooked the actions of a specific individual.

Former party leader Chung Cheong-rae caused controversy with remarks overtly promoting a specific candidate, Jang Se-il, the county chief, who was in the midst of a primary election, in a congratulatory video sent to National Assembly member Lee Gae-ho's book concert. In front of thousands of people, during well wishes for National Assembly member Lee Gae-ho, Chung Cheong-rae suddenly asked, "My friend, is my beloved County Chief Jang Se-il doing well?" and lauded County Chief Jang Se-il. These remarks were interpreted as an intention to lend support to a specific candidate before the primary, further fueling suspicions that County Chief Jang Se-il, who was involved in a cash-for-votes controversy, was forcibly nominated, and competing candidates faced a 'nomination massacre.'

Former party leader Chung Cheong-rae was criticized for using rhetoric such as, 'Do you like Lee Jae-myung, or Yoon Suk-yeol? If you like Lee Jae-myung, vote for the Democratic Party,' when addressing voters in various regions, including Jangheung. The host pointed out that this manner of speaking stemmed from an arrogant attitude that disregards and trivializes the public. This method of encouraging voting through simple comparisons of individuals, such as Lee Jae-myung versus Yoon Suk-yeol, or Lee Jae-myung versus Park Geun-hye, can be seen as disregarding voters' rational judgment.

Former party leader Chung Cheong-rae was criticized for repeatedly structuring his national speaking tours such that an hour of a 100-minute lecture was dedicated to his personal upbringing. The host pointed out that this speaking style, by emphasizing personal narratives without deep discussion of national tasks or policies, led to the unsophistication of party members. Constantly repeating his own story, like a broken radio, hinders party members from developing political judgment.