Seok Dong-hyun to Lee Jae-myung: "If You Fall Out of Favor with the Regime, You Will Also Go to the Public Corruption Investigation Office"

Lawyer Seok Dong-hyun, recommended by the People Power Party as a candidate for the head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Seok Donghyun, a lawyer recommended by the People Power Party as a candidate for the head of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (PCC), criticized Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung, who called him a pro-Japanese collaborator, by asking, "Is this the Japanese colonial era?"

On the 12th, Seok posted on his Facebook, saying, "As long as it helps our country's security and the interests of the people, we should cooperate with Japan where cooperation is possible and maintain good relations."

Earlier, Seok was reported to have said at a Gwanghwamun rally in August last year, criticizing the government's export restrictions on Japan, "If it helps security, I will become a pro-Japanese collaborator."

He continued, "They called me a pro-Japanese PCC head candidate, but whether I become the PCC head or not, it is not a matter of 'shut up and be pro-Japanese.' We should not sing the 'Jukchangga' song at every issue or attack innocent Japanese clothing stores or beer companies. Is this the Japanese colonial era?" he questioned.

Regarding the controversy over his statement on the 10th on Facebook that "the PCC is a monster," Seok explained, "Governor Lee could also be summoned and investigated by the PCC with just a complaint from a civic group if he falls out of favor with the regime. That is why I said the PCC could become a monster."

Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, also raised his voice in criticism. After attending the "Forum on the Outlook of the ROK-U.S. Alliance and Korean Peninsula Situation after the U.S. Presidential Election," Joo told reporters, "How can Governor Lee say such a low-level thing? He distorted the statement that he would willingly become a pro-Japanese collaborator for the sake of the Republic of Korea."

Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the same party, also criticized Lee, saying, "The PCC is an unconstitutional organization like the Chinese Public Security Bureau, which conceals the Moon administration's corruption and traps the opposition through covert investigations. How can he say such nonsense? It seems he cannot distinguish when to interfere and when to stay out, given how meddlesome he is."

Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province / Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, on the 11th, Lee posted on Facebook titled "People Power Party's pro-Japanese PCC head candidate recommendation is a mockery of the people," saying, "Lawyer Seok Donghyun is not even qualified as a candidate. He is a well-known opponent of the PCC who accepted the opposition party's recommendation while stating that 'the PCC is a monster that should never have been born.'"

Lee continued, "At a rally attended by Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon and others last year, he shamelessly made the outrageous remark, 'As long as it is not an act of treason against the country and the people, I will become a pro-Japanese collaborator,' and also said, 'Japan did not start the fire. Honestly, the government ignored and mocked Japan (due to the forced labor ruling),' causing great pain to the victims of forced labor and their families."

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