Lee Jae-jung "Yoon is the Prosecution Party" Jang Je-won "Anti-Moon Jae-in Sentiment" Ruling and Opposition Parties' Self-Serving Dispute

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] The ruling and opposition parties continue to engage in self-serving disputes over the claim that Yoon Seok-yeol is the "No. 1 presidential candidate in approval ratings."

On the morning of the 13th, Lee Jae-jung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said in an interview with YTN Radio, "Prosecutor General Yoon is not from the People Power Party but a third party, the Prosecutors' Party," adding, "From the opposition's perspective, they are unable to clearly present their candidates." Lee emphasized again that Yoon is not a candidate of the opposition, saying, "In a way, this is a figure that should be cheered for, but in politics, they are reluctant to accept it, telling each other 'please put it aside.'

Woo Sang-ho, also from the Democratic Party, pointed out in a TBS Radio interview the previous day, "Yoon's high approval rating is actually a disruptive factor that hinders the conservative opposition from deciding on a presidential candidate early and creating a boom." Jeong Cheong-rae, from the same party, also emphasized, "It is the first time that a sitting Prosecutor General is the No. 1 presidential candidate in approval ratings, but it is also the first time that the No. 1 opposition party's candidate is not even ranked."

On the other hand, the People Power Party is emphasizing that Prosecutor General Yoon is ahead of the ruling party candidates. Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman, said to reporters at the National Assembly the previous day, "I don't think he had a high approval rating as a presidential candidate," but added, "I think his approval rating was high because there is no one in the government or ruling party who firmly holds their own convictions like Prosecutor General Yoon." He further stated, "The high public support for Prosecutor General Yoon, who belongs to the current government, means that the people trust him the most in this administration. The public opinion poll results reflect the judgment of ordinary citizens."

Jang Je-won, a member of the People Power Party, also said on his Facebook, "Prosecutor General Yoon swept the 'anti-Moon Jae-in sentiment' and alone surpassed the People Power Party's approval rating of 20.4% by a wide margin."

Criticism has arisen that both ruling and opposition parties are interpreting the situation in a self-serving manner. Kwon Young-jin, mayor of Daegu, pointed out on his Facebook, "The political world is in an uproar over the fact that a sitting Prosecutor General ranked first in the next presidential candidate opinion poll. Some are deliberately attacking Yoon Seok-yeol, while others interpret it self-servingly, either being cautious or throwing obstacles," adding, "They really don't understand public sentiment."

Mayor Kwon also added, "From the public's perspective, how terrible must the political world be now for a Prosecutor General, who said he would quit politics and asked to be excluded from opinion polls, to surpass prominent ruling party candidates and opposition candidates with presidential election experience to rank first in public opinion polls?"

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