Chairperson Lee Seok-yeon of the Presidential Committee of National Cohesion stepped down on the 9th, saying, "The Presidential Committee of National Cohesion must serve as a channel of blunt criticism that conveys the people's pain and anger, and the voices of the silent majority, to those in power."
After completing a departure ceremony attended by staff of the Presidential Committee of National Cohesion that day, the Chairperson wrote this on Facebook.
The Chairperson noted, "If it is an organization that only says what pleases those in power and engages in performative activities that flatter power, it has no reason to exist," and pointed out, "Not a few times, politics amplifies conflict and divides our society with confirmation bias and camp logic."
She added, "Before politicians talk about national cohesion, politics must first show the face of cohesion," and, "If you regard the other side as an enemy and reject them simply because they think differently from you, democracy loses its place."
The Chairperson also stressed, "If we split into sides and distrust one another, no matter how much the economy grows and national power increases, the future of the Republic of Korea cannot be bright."
A conservative figure who served as head of the Ministry of Government Legislation under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Chairperson was appointed last September as head of the Presidential Committee of National Cohesion and did not hold back blunt criticism of President Lee and the current administration. However, with one year left in the term, the Chairperson was effectively dismissed and is leaving the post.
Recently, appearing on MBC's 100-minute Debate, the Chairperson drew attention by arguing that President Lee should leave the Democratic Party, saying it was in the vein of "feeling responsible for the disorder in state affairs" and "becoming a president for all."