[정치][뉴스파이팅]Kim Young-bae: “We need to completely reform our diplomatic and security lines in preparation for the inauguration of the Trump administration.”

◆Attorney Seunghee Bae (hereinafter referred to as Seunghee Bae): This is Seunghee Bae, a news fighter on the way to work. Part 3 begins. President Yoon Seok-yeol had his first phone call with U.S. President-elect Trump. The two reaffirmed the importance of the ROK-US alliance and agreed to meet as soon as possible. In relation to this, you are the secretary of the opposition party on the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Communications Committee, right? Let’s talk about it with Rep. Kim Young-bae of the Democratic Party of Korea. hello.

◇ Representative Kim Young-bae of the Democratic Party of Korea (hereinafter referred to as Kim Young-bae): Yes, hello. This is Youngbae Kim.

◆Seunghee Bae: Yes, let me ask about domestic news first. Yesterday, President Yoon bowed his head and apologized, saying that he would continue to reform. What do you think of the government reform?

◇Kim Young-bae: Yesterday’s press conference was, in a word, unexpected, but I think it was just that. Actually, I think it was a press conference yesterday without knowing why it was held. In fact, it seems that the core interest of the public was whether to apologize for various suspicions related to First Lady Kim Kun-hee or whether the President personally intervened in the nomination related to Myung Tae-gyun, prevent recurrence, and accept a special prosecutor. . I guess it was a really bad interview and everyone was out of the way, but I think the problem actually got bigger.

◆Seunghee Bae: That’s right. Regarding the suspicions related to Myung Tae-gyun, President Yoon stated that there was nothing inappropriate and there was nothing to hide. Tae-gyun Myung also posted an apology on social media right before the press conference. What did you think of this?

◇Kim Young-bae: So, as we saw yesterday, Myung Tae-gyun is appearing at the prosecution today. This typically presents investigative guidelines and virtually conceals the facts, raising suspicions that the result of Mr. Myung Tae-gyun’s appearance today at the prosecutor’s office and being investigated was that there was no problem in the end, and that this is just an incident and they are trying to cover it up. I’ve done enough. In particular, looking at what the President said yesterday, I don’t remember exactly what I had on the phone with Myung Tae-gyun. And then I got a phone call, but I don’t know the exact content right now, but I don’t know when, but the president asked me to do something about nominations, so it felt like a typical law-breaker, and I don’t remember people who know this law well. , I don’t know when, but isn’t that something we can talk about? This is a story that came up a lot during the luxury bag era. So, actually, while watching yesterday, I had the feeling that this expectation of a sincere explanation, a sincere apology based on that, and based on that, a true statement of position on the special prosecution and a will for reform, was completely vain. I think the public was probably very disappointed as well.

◆Seunghee Bae: That’s right. Regarding Ms. Kim’s special prosecution law, she claimed that it was political instigation rather than judicial action. What did you hear?

◇Kim Young-bae: So, isn’t President Yoon Seok-yeol a former special prosecutor for Park Geun-hye’s state corruption? The special prosecutor you were a part of did not violate the Constitution, but you actually became famous through it, and this is how you gained the image of a just prosecutor. Now that you are in a situation where you can become the target of a special investigation, isn’t it typical self-denial and a betrayal to say that it is a violation of the Constitution? In fact, how will our people accept that? In fact, if you look at it yesterday, you said that the National Assembly has now decided on a special prosecution and that there is no country forming a special prosecution team, and that it is a violation of the Constitution and a violation of the separation of powers. Laws are passed in the National Assembly, so where are they passed? The Special Prosecutor Act related to President Park Geun-hye was not ultimately passed by the National Assembly.

◆Seunghee Bae: But isn’t that what you were referring to in the content? All laws are passed by the National Assembly, but aren’t there some laws that go to the Constitutional Court and are ruled unconstitutional?

◇Kim Young-bae: Yes, that’s right. So, the National Assembly has passed it twice, but you have continued to exercise your veto. So, saying that the law passed by the National Assembly violates the separation of powers is, in fact, unjustified if you exercise your veto power. So, this is a statement that completely ignores the public sentiment and the purpose of this press conference. In fact, while preparing for the press conference, First Lady Kim Kun-hee also said, “Please apologize properly,” but there is no apology or a true explanation, and instead it is just a self-excuse. It is very true that our people are showing a hostile attitude by attacking the opposition party like this. I don’t know that. How do you think you saw it? When I looked at the headlines this morning, I saw a lot of media articles, both conservative and progressive, saying they were disappointing.

◆Bae Seung-hee: Regarding Mrs. Kim Kun-hee. It was announced that the second annex office was officially launched. In addition, regarding Mrs. Kim’s external activities, she even said that she would suspend them except for those that are necessary for diplomatic purposes. Could you give me your opinion on this?

◇Kim Young-bae: The second auxiliary room is a disaster, but I think it is a good idea to install it now. However, the question remains as to what to do with the suspicions that have been raised so far. That is, whether a special investigation is conducted, the truth is revealed, or the person himself comes forward and provides an honest explanation, these measures are necessary. You didn’t say anything about that part, did you? And among the measures that CEO Han Dong-hoon continues to advocate, this is a future measure, but the President did not mention anything about the appointment of a special inspector yesterday. So now there is no answer to the issue of establishing a special inspector general, an institutional mechanism that can actually uncover the truth, and there is simply no problem with all the suspicions that have been raised so far. I think that the attitude of trying to just cover it up by saying, “It’s because my wife is naive,” will only increase my anger, and so the public demand for a special prosecutor will inevitably increase, and I think it’s actually increasing my anger.

◆Bae Seung-hee: They say they won’t be active in the future. Aren’t these aspects that can be evaluated positively?

◇Kim Young-bae: We will have to wait and see what kind of work he will do in the future, but if he decides not to be active, we will have to wait and see in the future. But can’t the issues and suspicions that have been raised just be ignored for what has happened so far? This is because there are suspicions related to various public corruptions in government affairs. I would like to reiterate that the public demand now is to investigate that matter and move on. I guess we can’t avoid this.

◆Bae Seung-hee: I can’t say for sure, but you say it’s a suspicion of government manipulation. All right. Because it’s for external communication. I think we should now ask about the US presidential election. President Yoon spoke by phone with President-elect Trump and agreed to meet as soon as possible. President-elect Trump is said to have told President Yoon that he would like to meet him quickly. Will Korea-US relations change in the future?

◇Kim Young-bae: Isn’t the whole world actually very surprised right now that President Trump won a landslide victory? In such a situation, I think there is no choice but to completely revise the value diplomacy, alliance diplomacy, and camp diplomacy that our Yoon Seok-yeol government has banished. In that respect, I would like to say that President Yoon Seok-yeol should now look deeply into the criticism and demands of our Democratic Party and the people who have been calling for diplomacy in the national interest. In particular, there is a need to take a deeper look at sensitive economic issues of national interest, such as the contribution issue, which can be seen as an issue of conflict between Korea and the United States, the possibility of FTA renegotiation, the Semiconductor Act, and the electric vehicle subsidy issue related to the IRA Act. In that respect, I would like to point out whether there is a need for our government to completely revise its diplomatic line from now on and prepare by completely replacing the so-called diplomatic line and reorganizing it into a new camp.

◆Bae Seung-hee: You are saying that the diplomatic line needs to be replaced.

◇Kim Young-bae: Since we are the camp that has followed the Biden administration’s line, as we say that the ROK-US alliance is important, if President Trump and his staff, who are the very core axis of the ROK-US alliance, are appointed, we will work along that line. As the need for personnel reform has been raised, one of the most necessary things right now is to completely reform the diplomatic and security line, especially Deputy Director Kim Tae-hyo, who was a problem in the President’s Office. I would like to tell you that it is one.

◆Seunghee Bae: I see. However, some say that President-elect Trump has a similar chemistry with this leader who has a very strong character and strong leadership, and in this sense, there is an analysis that he will have chemistry with President Yoon. There is also analysis from experts. What do you think?

◇Kim Young-bae: Yesterday, I saw President Yoon Seok-yeol evaluating that he would have good chemistry with President Trump. There are many opposing views in the United States. A foreign reporter also asked that question yesterday. President Trump has said that he hates prosecutors, but doesn’t that mean candidate Harris is a former prosecutor? In addition, President Trump was elected while he was currently indicted and being tried on four charges by the Democratic government. Since President Trump has continued to claim that he has been oppressed by the prosecutors, the situation in our country feels like deja vu. Looking at it now, our CEO Lee Jae-myeong is also being oppressed by the prosecution by the president who was a prosecutor. Isn’t this situation being staged for us? That’s why I don’t know. I’m not sure. It would be great if President Trump and President Yoon had chemistry, but I am very concerned that according to some general American media reports and what experts around me say, it will be the complete opposite.

◆Seunghee Bae: That’s right. President Trump mentioned this shipbuilding industry and said it needs our help. Will economic cooperation between Korea and the United States become stronger?

◇Kim Young-bae: I think economic cooperation between Korea and the United States is more important than anything else. In particular, since we are an export trade country, local investment in semiconductors, electric vehicles, and batteries in the United States is at an all-time high, so the key issue that the Yoon Seok-yeol government must first solve is trade and economic cooperation. In that respect, given that President Trump is using the America First policy centered on the national interests of the United States, I think we really need to make solid preparations, and President Yoon Seok-yeol will discuss diplomatic issues more broadly in a bipartisan manner with the business community and especially the opposition party. You must do this. Only then will we be able to create a national driving force that can protect our national interests even in the process of cooperation with the United States and strengthen our long-term cooperation with the United States through national consensus. In this regard, we will reorganize our diplomatic line through cooperation with the opposition party and work with President Trump. I would like to ask you to make such solid preparations when entering into negotiations.

◆Seunghee Bae: In Trump’s second term, it appears that he will push harder for the America First policy that he pursued during his first term in office. What is the need for cooperation with the opposition party you mentioned?

◇Kim Young-bae: First of all, even if it is only to deal with the issue of the cost sharing between Korea and the United States, is it better to deal with it right now this year? Because President Trump has argued throughout the campaign that Korea is a money machine, he may increase the cost of stationing U.S. troops in Korea by about 10 times. You did it without hesitation. That is why there is a request now for the Biden administration to sign and pass the contribution plan in the National Assembly within this year. In fact, I think it is very important for the national interest to make a strategic decision about whether it is better to deal with this now or later after seeing President Trump’s demands. In addition, as I mentioned earlier, when strategic assets related to ROK-US military exercises are developed on the US side, there is a high possibility that claims for contributions and costs will be filed. Also, in the case of semiconductors or electric vehicles, our doctrines are subject to decisive infringement depending on how the law is handled in the United States, so in my opinion, only when the ruling and opposition parties join forces and engage in diplomacy can this problem be responded to effectively. I hear it. That is why I am saying this at this level, because I am now in a desperate situation of transition, and in this transitional situation, it is very important for me to demonstrate leadership so that the ruling and opposition parties can join forces. So, in times like this, President Yoon Seok-yeol immediately invites the opposition party leader to check on changes in the situation, shares the government’s information and judgment with the opposition party representative, requests cooperation, and engages in diplomacy like this based on that. What I am saying is that it is both a way to strengthen communication and a very minimal foundation for national interest.

◆Bae Seung-hee: Wouldn’t the opposition party also be able to cooperate proactively?

◇Kim Young-bae: Of course, if it is for the national interest, there is no reason for the president to refuse to invite the opposition party to discuss it. That is why I would like to give advice that the President needs to demonstrate leadership in this area. I would like to say that the first step in strengthening communication with the people is a dialogue with the opposition party.

◆Seunghee Bae: I have a question for you later. President Trump said he would end the war in Ukraine early, within 24 hours. What should we do about providing weapons to our country?

◇Kim Young-bae: I don’t think we are in a situation where we can judge that right now. Although President Trump may now decide his position on the war between Russia and Ukraine, the tradition of American politics is the One President until he takes office on January 20th. President Biden will be president until January 20th. That’s why I really want to tell you that you need to take some time and never make hasty judgments. Supporting lethal weapons has the potential to cause fatal harm to our national interests if done incorrectly, and through close consultation with President Trump, we have decided that it would be better to take the first step in this regard.

◆Bae Seung-hee: Let me ask you about the opposition party. Currently, CEO Lee Jae-myeong is about to be sentenced in the first trial on the 15th. The need for live broadcasting is increasingly emphasized. I think you said you might consider live broadcasting, Senator. How about it?

◇Kim Young-bae: This was a basic answer, but when I saw Representative Han Dong-hoon bring up this issue again yesterday, I was concerned that the person who served as the Minister of Justice was trying to intimidate the judiciary. Isn’t this an attitude of effectively trying to pressure the judiciary into finding guilty? It is a very worrying violation of the separation of powers that the government and ruling party keep making such claims about the judiciary’s judgment. You need to stop this.

◆Seunghee Bae: So are you saying it would be better not to broadcast it live?

◇Kim Young-bae: This is also a matter for the judiciary to decide. What I am saying is that it is very worrisome that things are continuing like this in the form of intimidation of the judiciary.

◆Seunghee Bae: What is your position, Assemblyman? Do you think you will be found not guilty?

◇Kim Young-bae: I am confident that I am innocent.

◆Seunghee Bae: Then wouldn’t it be better to broadcast it live?

◇Kim Young-bae: That is a matter for the judiciary to decide. That is why I am expressing my concern that if this issue is now a political battle and political parties come forward and tell people to leave it alone, it will inevitably result in intimidation of the judiciary.

◆Seunghee Bae: I see. Are you personally opposed to live broadcasts?

◇Kim Young-bae: What I mean by live broadcasting now is that talking about personal opinions is turning into a political battle, as I said before. So, this in itself is a situation that has no choice but to result in an infringement on the judiciary.

◆Bae Seung-hee: You are saying that we should not talk about both sides. All right. I listened carefully to what you said today.

◇Kim Young-bae: Yes, thank you.

◆Bae Seung-hee: Until now, Kim Young-bae was a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. thank you

YTN Shin Dong-jin ([email protected])