Writer Yoo Si-min apologized for his comment on the 30th describing Seol Nan-young, the spouse of People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo, as 'not mentally sound,' stating, 'The harshness of my expression was my fault.'
On this day, Yoo appeared on the YouTube broadcast "Alillreo Books," admitting, "If I had used more refined and accurate expressions, I wouldn't have received so much criticism."
Regarding the background of his remarks, Yoo explained, "Mr. Kim Eo-jun said on his YouTube channel, 'Seol is a former labor activist, so why is she belittling unions and, as the spouse of a major party's presidential candidate, publicly denigrating the spouse of another candidate? It doesn't make sense,' to which I replied, 'I understand,' and then expressed what I understood."
Regarding the expression "not mentally sound" directed at Seol, Yoo clarified, "It means that she was unable to make purposeful and rational judgments." He further noted, "The role of a presidential candidate's spouse is to gain votes for their husband, but Seol's actions seem to reduce her husband's votes."
He emphasized, "I didn't say that Seol felt a sense of social ascent by marrying a former student labor activist, but rather mentioned that she might feel that way," stressing that there was no intention of classism or disparaging women and labor.
He also argued, "Kim has been campaigning by disparaging Democratic Party of Korea's candidate Lee Jae-myung without context, so the spouse should play the role of the opposition at home. But for that, she needs to maintain a critical distance to offer such advice, yet because Seol looks up to her husband, it's difficult for her to provide critical advice, causing her to follow her husband in his disparagement."
Yoo reiterated, "I was explaining my understanding of why Seol behaves the way she does," asserting, "I never spoke of classism, misogyny, or labor disparagement, nor did I speak with such intent."
He added, "I'm not the one thinking that way; I said that it's because Seol Nan-young thinks like that that she speaks and acts in that manner," applying "an intrinsic approach." He noted that he has also done the same with former President Yoon Suk-yeol.