[Song Pyong-in Column] The President's Pretended Knowledge and Ignorance

The article sharply criticizes President Yoon Suk Yeol's recent public statements, particularly his use of misattributed quotes from philosophers like Plato and Aristotle to encourage voting. The author argues these inaccurate citations, compounded by a pattern of divisive rhetoric, serve to fragment rather than unite the public.

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As Plato said, vote to avoid being ruled by the worst lowlifes.

Furthermore, the piece draws a stark contrast between the South Korean government's response to an attack on a Korean cargo ship and France's reaction to a similar incident involving a French vessel. While France immediately deployed a naval task force, South Korea's government was slow to confirm the attack and hesitant to attribute blame, even when evidence suggested Iranian involvement. The author questions the administration's decision to bring debris for investigation rather than acting decisively, especially when compared to the US President's direct attribution of blame.

The author contends that President Yoon's administration is exhibiting a concerning pattern of either ignorance or deliberate inaction regarding threats, particularly from Iran. Despite South Korea's perceived military strength, the government has not dispatched naval assets, leaving the nation vulnerable to further attacks. This perceived hesitancy is juxtaposed with Yoon's strong rhetoric against crimes targeting Korean citizens abroad, leading the author to label the approach to the maritime incident as a case of the president acting like "the emperor has no clothes" – aware of facts that others are, but feigning ignorance.

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The greatest penalty for not wanting to rule is to be ruled by someone worse than yourself.

The piece concludes by suggesting that Iran will remain an "unresolved criminal" indefinitely, implying that the government's passive stance will allow such incidents to go unaddressed. The author implies that this inaction, particularly concerning the safety of Korean nationals and vessels, undermines national security and South Korea's standing on the international stage.

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We will track down and hold accountable those responsible for crimes against our citizens to the end.