'Powerful Opponents' to analyze presidential risks, ruling and opposition party conflicts, and Oh Se-hoon appeal

The TV CHOSUN current affairs talk show 'Powerful Opponents' will cover current issues surrounding the President, the leadership of the ruling and opposition parties, and local government heads. In the broadcast at 9:10 PM on the 24th, former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Sung-tae, Vice Chairman of the Regulatory Rationalization Committee Park Yong-jin, New Reform Party floor leader Cheon Ha-ram, and former CBS editorial chief Kim Han-jeong will appear. They will discuss the presence of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency head at cabinet meetings, the President's state affairs management and communication methods, internal conflicts within the Democratic Party of Korea, and the controversy regarding People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk's profanity during a drinking session. Regarding the acquittal in the appeal trial of Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, they will analyze the core issues of the verdict and its impact on the power structure of the People Power Party.

Presence of Serious Crimes Investigation Agency head at cabinet meetings and President's 'AI state affairs management' remarks

Amid concerns regarding neutrality over the presence of Serious Crimes Investigation Agency head Kim Ji-yong at cabinet meetings, the guests clashed over the President's mention of 'AI state affairs management.' Former lawmaker Kim Sung-tae evaluated the presence of heads of investigative agencies at cabinet meetings, stating, "Making a point to have heads of investigative agencies attend is a way to set a path from the beginning." Floor leader Cheon Ha-ram criticized the President's remark about asking AI, saying, "Saying he asked AI makes the staff in the Office of the President look like fools. When you think of the President, it brings to mind the image of a loner doing SNS in a small room. It seems the President is so driven that he is unable to make basic judgments."

Opinions were also divided on the President's statement that "abandoning command and supervision is grounds for impeachment." Regarding the President's logic, Cheon Ha-ram argued, "The President is saying 'ask and go double' by raising the stakes, but it is completely wrong and involves a complete leap in logic. If it were according to the President's words, should all past presidents have been impeached? They did not exercise command and supervision due to controversies over fairness." Vice Chairman Park Yong-jin interpreted the presence of investigative agency heads at cabinet meetings as "a signal to break free from the delusion of being a quasi-judicial body." He mentioned the situation where Han Dong-hoon claims the President will direct investigations, stating, "Both the President and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, as well as the Public Prosecution Service, stand at a major testing ground. Therefore, they will become more cautious."

The debate over cabinet meeting attendees had previously continued in the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. In a broadcast debate on the 21st, it was mentioned that the President directly refuted the controversy regarding the presence of the head of the Public Prosecution Service and the head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency at cabinet meetings. At that time, lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties also clashed over whether the head of the Office of the President's secretariat should attend the National Assembly audit, but the debate topic covered in 'Powerful Opponents' is the presence of investigative agency heads and the President's remarks. The guests continued the debate regarding the President's responsibility for command and supervision and the neutrality of investigative agencies.

Mixed evaluations of communication regarding SNS and live-streaming cabinet meetings

The President expressed that SNS is his "lifeline and the breathing hole that will save me at the last moment," stating he would increase its use. Former editorial chief Kim Han-jeong criticized the communication styles of presidents, saying, "There are three types of communication failure: former President Park Geun-hye who does not meet people, former President Yoon Suk Yeol who does not listen, and President Lee Jae Myung who only speaks his own words. Is this truly normal communication?" Vice Chairman Park Yong-jin said that along with the President not feeling isolated, it is important to verify facts properly and communicate with the people.

Floor leader Cheon Ha-ram argued that consistency is needed in the President's external remarks and attitude. He said, "What I want to tell the President is that I wish he would treat everyone as he treats North Korea. The movement to post positive comments is only being done toward North Korea. I hope he shows a consistent attitude toward everyone, treating Ukraine like he is hunting rats and calling Israel war criminals." His remarks mentioned the President's comments regarding North Korea, Ukraine, and Israel. Vice Chairman Park Yong-jin stated his position that the President must perform proper fact-checking when communicating with the people.

The guests also offered differing evaluations regarding the President's intention to continue live-streaming cabinet meetings. Former lawmaker Kim Sung-tae predicted, "The President is the law. The structure will flow such that the Republic of Korea moves according to a single word from the President." Cheon Ha-ram remarked that the President shows a tendency to criticize subordinates as he did when he was a non-mainstream figure, saying, "The President looks like a 'kkondae' (old-fashioned/condescending person). He criticizes subordinates just as he did when he was in the non-mainstream, but it seems the President does not realize that his position has changed." The broadcast covers the expansion of communication through SNS and the remarks surrounding the live-streaming of cabinet meetings.

Internal Democratic Party of Korea conflicts spreading to Choo Mi-ae's remarks and Kim Min-seok's protocol controversy

Within the Democratic Party of Korea, Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae's "financial straw" remark and the protocol controversy involving leader Kim Min-seok were discussed. Vice Chairman Park Yong-jin expressed concern that if the leadership and local government heads continue this chaotic atmosphere, it could affect the President's momentum in state affairs management and the next general election. Cheon Ha-ram commented on Governor Choo, saying, "Governor Choo Mi-ae is indeed the mother of the conservatives. She is becoming a target of ridicule even within the Democratic Party of Korea, saying she entered the stage at an amazing timing." Former editorial chief Kim Han-jeong reported that questions are being raised about whether the party can fight the general election with Kim Min-seok as the face of the pro-Lee Jae Myung faction, and that discussions regarding an emergency response committee are also emerging.

Cheon Ha-ram criticized the task force (TF) created by Kim Min-seok, saying, "Leader Kim Min-seok is only creating TFs for his own politics and is just showing off. There are rumors coming from the pro-Lee Jae Myung faction that he abandoned the President to win over the hardline supporters within the party." Vice Chairman Park Yong-jin advised that since Kim Min-seok has many schedules, there is a need to reduce his workload. The guests addressed the leader's actions and the conflicts between the party leadership and local government heads as issues being raised within the party.

At the time, Representative Kim Min-seok criticized Governor Choo regarding her criticism of President Lee's prosecutorial reform and mentioned the need for inspections of local government heads. Representative Kim stated that there are cases where the activities of local governments and heads fall into an inspection vacuum, and that it is necessary to monitor whether they are adhering to the party's policies and lines. When Cho Kuk, director of the Rebuilding Korea Party Innovation Policy Research Institute, criticized Representative Kim's remarks, Representative Kim countered, calling it "shaking [the party] disguised as worry." Voices calling for restraint emerged from both inside and outside the Democratic Party of Korea. The participants of ‘Powerful Opponents’ provide their own evaluations of these conflicts, as well as Governor Choo's remarks and the controversy over Representative Kim's protocol.

Oh Se-hoon's acquittal in appeal trial and Jang Dong-hyuk's profanity controversy

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was found not guilty in the appeal trial regarding charges of violating the Political Funds Act. Floor Leader Cheon analyzed that the fact that Mayor Oh was unaware of the relevant details served as the core basis for the acquittal. Vice Chairman Park evaluated this ruling, saying, "It was a ruling that threw mud at the entire nation's rulings." Former Representative Kim mentioned the structure where President Lee's state affairs and Mayor Oh's municipal administration compete, stating that Mayor Oh will have a politically advantageous landscape in the 2030 presidential election. Former Director Kim explained the party structure by grouping Jang Dong-hyuk, Han Dong-hoon, and Oh Se-hoon as 'Jang-Han-Oh,' diagnosing that while Mayor Oh could gain momentum and spread his wings, he lacks sufficient support within the party.

The main contents of the appeal trial were who bore the costs and whether Mayor Oh was aware of them. According to reference reports, Mayor Oh was indicted on charges of receiving public opinion poll results from Myeong Tae-gyun ahead of the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election and having Kim Han-jeong, known as a long-time supporter, pay the costs on his behalf. In the closing hearing of the second trial, the special prosecutor team requested 1 year and 6 months in prison and a collection of 33 million won. Mayor Oh's side claimed innocence, stating it is difficult to believe Myeong's testimony, and the defense stated that the recording of the call between Myeong and Kim contradicts the facts of the indictment. Reference reports stated that the first trial judged that he had a proxy payment of approximately 21 million won for 5 out of the requested public opinion polls.

The broadcast also covers the incident where People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk's profanity during a drinking session was revealed. Regarding the faction in power saying the impact will be "limited," Former Director Kim relayed, "Did they just now find out Jang Dong-hyuk is good at swearing? Jang Dong-hyuk has nothing more to lose." Vice Chairman Park argued that the hardline supporters and the general public might perceive this differently, saying, "They will want to let it pass quietly, but the far-right hardline Yoon Again forces will act as if they were deceived, and all citizens will think it was cheap politics. It is deceiving people by pretending to have conviction and integrity without any shame or loyalty." Floor Leader Cheon analyzed that there could be a long-term negative impact as Jang's past remarks regarding fraudulent elections could be mentioned alongside this action. Former Representative Kim said that if they move toward being even more hardline after the profanity scandal, they could lose appeal within the entire conservative camp.

TV CHOSUN ‘Powerful Opponents’ airs on the 24th at 9:10 PM. The program will examine current issues surrounding the President, party leaders, and local government heads, the key issues of Mayor Oh's appeal trial, and the aftermath on the People Power Party's power structure after the ruling with the participants.

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