Moon vows to solemnly accept the public’s reprimand

Apr 09, 2021, 09:30 am

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President Moon Jae-in/ Source: Yonhap News

AsiaToday reporter Lee Jang-won

With the April 7 by-elections ending in a crushing defeat for the ruling Democratic Party (DP), President Moon Jae-in said Thursday he accepts the election results and will take the people’s rebuke seriously. The leaders of the ruling party resigned to take responsibility for the shocking defeat. The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) requested for a complete renewal of the ruling party. It seems the Moon Jae-in administration will inevitably revise its stance on major policies and state affairs.

Moon vowed to address state affairs humbly and with a heavy sense of responsibility after discussing the defeat with his key presidential officials, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Min-seok on Thursday. The president seemingly has taken the defeat as the people’s warning. “I will focus all efforts toward overcoming the COVID-19 crisis, achieving economic recovery and eradicating real-estate corruption,” Moon said. A key presidential official told reporters that the administration will seek to win back public trust.

Taking responsibility for the defeat, the leadership of the ruling DP has resigned. Until new leadership is elected the party will be led by an emergency committee headed by Do Jong-hwan. The DP decided to hold a party convention on May 9 to choose its new party leader and hold an election on April 16 to pick its new floor leader. Lawmakers Song Young-gil, Woo Won-sik, and Hong Young-pyo are potential candidates for the party leader, while lawmakers Ahn Kyu-baek, Yoon Ho-joong, Kim Kyung-hyup, and Park Wan-joo are expected to run for floor leader.

The government is expected to carry out a reshuffle to turn the situation. First of all, prime minister Chung Sye-kyun is expected to resign next week when he returns from a visit to the Middle East, in a likely move to run in the next presidential election. Potential prime ministerial candidates are former Interior Minister Kim Boo-kyum and former lawmaker Won Hye-young. A reshuffle involving Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki, Transportation Minister Byun Chang-heum, and Trade Minister Sung Yun-mo is likely to be carried out.

Shocked by the defeat, the ruling party, the presidential office, and the government are expected to change its stance in carrying out prosecutorial reform and other initiatives. In a poll revealed Thursday, more than 80 percent of South Koreans said the Moon Jae-in government needs to change its policy direction partially or entirely. Besides, the ruling party is likely to distance itself from Moon Jae-in as his approval rating has plunged. Observers say the ruling party may provide setbacks to the government in coordinating its policies.

The PPP called for complete government reform and resignation of the Cabinet, pressuring the government and the ruling party.

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