Rhyu Si-min accused President Lee Jae Myung of trying to control the ruling Democratic Party of Korea like a monarchy and of governing through a proxy in Seoul on Monday. He said Lee handpicked Kim Min-seok to lead the party and described the move as contrary to the spirit of a republic. Rhyu, who had supported Lee in the presidential election, also said the administration is entering a highly unstable phase as the anti-Lee faction inside the DPK has been dismantled.
Rhyu Si-min, a former lawmaker and welfare minister, who is now a political critic / Korea Times file
A prominent liberal political commentator has accused President Lee Jae Myung of behaving like an “arrogant ruler” and seeking to control the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) in a manner reminiscent of a monarchy.
Rhyu Si-min, a former lawmaker from the liberal bloc who also served as welfare minister before becoming a political pundit, claimed the president handpicked the DPK’s new chairman and used him as a proxy to tighten his grip on the ruling party.
Rhyu was referring to Kim Min-seok, who served as Lee’s first prime minister before being elected as DPK leader on Aug. 17.
