Won Hee-ryong: "The Battle for Support Rates Among Current Prosecutor Generals as Next Candidates Is Abnormal"

On the 16th, at the 389th Jeju Provincial Council 2nd Regular Session, Governor Won Hee-ryong of Jeju Province is delivering the administrative speech. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju Province, praised Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol for maintaining professional ethics but pointed out that it is abnormal for a sitting Prosecutor General to compete in the rankings of next presidential candidate support rates.

On that day, Governor Won wrote on his Facebook, "Before entering politics in 1999, I was a prosecutor. Like all professions, prosecutors have professional ethics as prosecutors," adding, "For prosecutors who rise to high positions like Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, stricter professional ethics are required."

He continued, "Usually, those in power want investigations not to be conducted against their own side," and said, "However, problems arise if crimes committed by those in power are overlooked." Governor Won explained, "The truth cannot be hidden forever, and if the Prosecutor General turns a blind eye, prosecutors working below become intimidated and more cautious," adding, "Maintaining a prosecutor's professional ethics is difficult with just one prosecutor's heroic actions."

Governor Won also quoted Brad Glosserman, author of 'Peak Japan,' saying, "'Nature and politics abhor a vacuum,'" and argued, "It cannot be considered normal for a sitting Prosecutor General to compete for the top spot in presidential candidate support rates."

He added, "This is a phenomenon rarely seen in advanced countries," and stated, "As a politician, I feel responsible for creating the opposition's vacuum. I will strive harder to engage in politics that offer alternatives beyond mere criticism."

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