Park Ji-won says Yu Si-min is 'coming out as a disguised conservative,' urges party to ignore him

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Ji-won criticized writer Yu Si-min on Thursday over Yu's recent string of sharp remarks targeting President Lee Jae Myung, saying Yu appeared to be "coming out as a disguised conservative."

Park made the comments during an appearance on KBC's YouTube program "Yeouido Chodesok" on Thursday, responding to Yu's recent criticisms. "He can't tell what should and shouldn't be said," Park said. "There's no need to get worked up over what he says."

"Just ignore him," Park said, and went on to say: "I want to ask whether Yu is coming out as a conservative and actually helping Yoon Suk Yeol. The core question is whether Yu wants the insurrection forces to take power by attacking President Lee and the Democratic Party."

Park added that the party should not be swayed by Yu's "venomous words and harsh criticism" and should stay the course. "Just ignore him — that's how I see it," he said.

Park had also addressed Yu on Tuesday in a Facebook post, writing: "Writer Yu! Come back! If we go down the path of division, we all lose. Let's go together!"

Earlier, Yu appeared on the YouTube channel "Journalist" on Monday and claimed that President Lee had shown himself to be "an arrogant wielder of power" over the past year. Yu also argued that the president's attempts to handpick and install the ruling party's leader amounted to "moving toward monarchy and aristocracy."