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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Ruling party member calls leader 'conservative's Roh Moo-hyun,' sparking backlash

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A ruling party committee member called the party leader the "conservative's Roh Moo-hyun," drawing criticism.
  • He argued the leader navigates the party's established power structure similarly to how the late president dealt with regional power blocs.
  • The committee member also vowed to be a "great subordinate" to the leader, who he was appointed to by.

A committee member of South Korea's ruling People Power Party has sparked controversy by likening party leader Joo Ho-young to the late liberal President Roh Moo-hyun, calling him the "conservative's Roh Moo-hyun." Cho Kwang-han, a nominated committee member, made the remarks during an interview on a YouTube channel, arguing that Joo navigates the party's entrenched power structure in a way analogous to Roh's dealings with regional political forces.

Cho explained his comparison by stating that Joo is the only leader within the party who possesses sharp insight into its problems and broader political issues in South Korea. He elaborated that while Joo respects the party's dominant "Yeongnam (southeastern region) power cartel," he maintains a delicate balance of tension and cooperation with their "greed and vested interests." Cho also pointed to the emergence of a spontaneous fan base supporting Joo, likening it to the "Nosamo" (People Who Love Roh Moo-hyun) movement that supported Roh's presidential bid.

Chairman Joo is similar to Roh Moo-hyun, who survived the Honam vested interests, and Joo Ho-young, who is struggling to hold his ground against the Yeongnam vested interests.

— Cho Kwang-hanCho Kwang-han explains his controversial comparison of the ruling party leader to the late president.

"Roh Moo-hyun survived the Honam (southwestern region) vested interests, and Joo Ho-young is struggling to hold his ground against the Yeongnam vested interests. They are similar," Cho asserted. He further pledged his unwavering support for Joo, stating, "If I cannot protect Chairman Joo, I will quit politics. I hope to do a good job as a bodyguard. I want to be a great subordinate."

Cho, who previously served as a press secretary during the Roh administration and later left the Democratic Party after a dispute with then-Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung, joined the People Power Party in September 2023. His appointment as a nominated committee member by Joo in January has drawn attention, especially following his past political trajectory and his recent controversial remarks.

If I cannot protect Chairman Joo, I will quit politics. I hope to do a good job as a bodyguard. I want to be a great subordinate.

— Cho Kwang-hanCho Kwang-han pledges his loyalty to the party leader.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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