Yoo Yi-dong Acknowledges Need for Ethics Committee, Urges Caution on Disciplinary Actions

Yoo Yi-dong, a member of the People Power Party, stated on August 18 that while he agrees the party's Central Ethics Committee should play a role in maintaining order within the party, he urged caution regarding disciplinary actions against four incumbent lawmakers.

During an appearance on KBS Radio's 'Current Affairs', Yoo said, "If the Ethics Committee is perceived as losing procedural trust or being used for political purposes, it will result in a greater distance between the party and the public."

He noted that as the Democratic Party and the administration of Lee Jae-myung continue to face challenges, public support and expectations are declining. He pointed out that one reason for the People Power Party's persistently low approval ratings is the ongoing issues related to the Ethics Committee. "The news the public wants to hear concerns real estate issues, labor conditions, and climate change, but instead, matters related to the Ethics Committee are being reported like gossip," he said.

Yoo expressed concern that the party is receiving unintended consequences from news that strays far from its core essence. He urged the party to be very cautious and deliberate in this regard.

Regarding Jang Dong-hyuk's attendance at a rally in Olympic Park on August 15, Yoo emphasized the importance of representing a variety of voices rather than selective issues. He acknowledged that while it is one way for the opposition leader to engage in a struggle against the ruling party, there is a need to consider whether the intended outcome was achieved.

He elaborated, "When we represent diverse voices on issues like real estate, disaster recovery, and stock market impacts, we can appeal to the public as a viable governing party. If we focus only on selective and narrow issues, it raises questions about how much support we can garner. As the opposition, we need to narrow the gap with the public to effectively check the ruling party and achieve results."

On the previous day's dinner meeting attended by floor leader Chung Jeong-sik and other senior lawmakers, Yoo remarked, "There is a vision for the party that the party leader pursues, and there is a vision that the floor leader aims for. It seems that, from the perspective of party members, the approach taken by Floor Leader Chung to find the party's space amid the ruling party's missteps and the rapid decline in presidential approval ratings is seen as more effective."

He added, "Recently, when the mayor of Seoul was called in to discuss the city's stance on real estate issues and how the party and the city can collaborate, it appears that lawmakers are giving higher marks for these efforts. I believe that the way Floor Leader Chung is currently leading the party represents the best efforts and attempts given the situation the party is in. I hope we can gradually bring about change from there."