Opposition's Dilemma Watching Yoon Seok-yeol's No.1 Syndrome

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun and Lim Chun-han] The opposition parties have mixed feelings about Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's 'No. 1 approval rating' syndrome. While they welcome the confirmation of the anti-Moon Jae-in sentiment, it also serves as evidence of their 'incompetence' in failing to convert this into support for the People Power Party. The more Prosecutor General Yoon stands out, the more the presence of opposition presidential candidates fades, which is also a cause for concern.

Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, said at the emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th, "The fact that the Prosecutor General affiliated with the current government has high approval ratings does not mean that the people trust an opposition politician the most." This is interpreted as expressing concern over the high approval ratings of a prosecutor general who is not an opposition politician.

He added, "Now that the political circles and the government are calling for fairness and insisting on upholding so-called justice, ordinary citizens probably see Prosecutor General Yoon as the most outstanding figure," and said, "As Yoon himself has always emphasized, he has carried out the duties of the Prosecutor General most fairly according to the law, but because the political circles and the Minister of Justice keep making various remarks, the general public has judged him, which is reflected in the poll results."

However, Chairman Kim drew a line on the interpretation that "Prosecutor General Yoon has overwhelmed opposition candidates." He told reporters after the emergency committee meeting that day, "Isn't the Prosecutor General a person belonging to the government and ruling party? The fact that he has the highest approval rating means he is the top person in the government and ruling party," and added, "I do not necessarily think that his approval rating is high as a presidential candidate."

Floor leader Joo Ho-young also said at the emergency committee meeting that day, "(Minister of Justice) Choo Mi-ae keeps pushing a person who said he would not engage in politics and only perform prosecutorial duties into politics," and added, "The relationship between Minister Choo and Prosecutor General Yoon is quite ambiguous. It is hard to tell whether they are enemies or comrades." He continued, "The two public officials highly praised by the Democratic Party, Prosecutor General Yoon and Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, seem to be holding South Korea together through difficult times," emphasizing, "If it were not for these two, the public service and legal order in South Korea would have completely collapsed, but thanks to their efforts, they are being maintained."

Park Hyung-joon, a former co-chairman of the Future United Party's election committee and considered a leading opposition candidate for Busan mayor, also expressed his feelings on Facebook that day. He said, "It is truly bittersweet for the People Power Party," and added, "We need to properly read this public sentiment and turn it into an opportunity for a turnaround." He said, "What is needed to check this administration is not the number of lawmakers," and added, "If a few warriors like former lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook step up and logically and emotionally immobilize the opposition, the People Power Party would not look so powerless."

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