Jin Joong-kwon: "Hwang Unha's Nomination, the Price of a Vile Deal"

"The charges against Hwang Unha are very malicious"

Former Dongyang University Professor Jin Joong-kwon. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon criticized Hwang Unha, former Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency chief (currently head of the Police Human Resources Development Institute), who is running in the April 15 general election, saying, "The charges against Hwang Unha are very malicious."

On the same day, Jin posted on his Facebook, stating, "The type of crime is not from the Fifth Republic, nor the Third Republic, but rather close to the era of Syngman Rhee."

He continued, "The police intervening in the election through power-ordered investigations is reminiscent of the March 15 fraudulent election," adding, "This is a very serious crime that has set the country's political culture back by more than 60 years, and the motive is absurd. It is close to promoting a friend of the president and flattering him."

Regarding Hwang's recent refusal to respond to the prosecution's investigation, Jin said, "He didn't show up even when the prosecution called him, but when they couldn't investigate and just indicted him, he complains, 'Why are you indicting without investigation?'" He raised his voice, saying, "When called, he was like a scared puppy tucking his tail, but now he barks belatedly."

Hwang Unha, former Chief of Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency (current Director of the Police Human Resources Development Institute) / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, Jin criticized the Democratic Party, which deemed Hwang eligible as a preliminary candidate for the general election, saying, "Did they do this because excluding him from the nomination would officially acknowledge the Ulsan mayoral election interference case?" He added, "The election interference case is a very serious crime that disrupts the constitutional order of the Republic of Korea."

Jin also said, "It feels like the culture where judges and prosecutors do a favor and receive party nominations has become the norm in politics." He added, "(However) judging by the charges against Hwang Unha, he is different from judges and prosecutors who make polite remarks and receive nominations. The nomination is a very ugly transaction."

Hwang is suspected of conducting an investigation into former Ulsan Mayor Kim Gi-hyeon under orders from the Blue House while serving as the Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency chief in 2017.

Hwang was indicted on charges of abuse of authority and violation of the Public Official Election Act for allegedly influencing the election by disciplining police officers who were lukewarm about investigating former Mayor Kim and investigating Kim's close aides.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.