[Friday Story] Geomsuwanbak Yoon, What Is the Next Message?

Which Position and Method Will You Choose?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Prosecutors speak through indictments. Politicians answer the questions of the people. Having stepped out of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, he is already a politician. If his resignation is truly "to protect the people," the public is waiting for the answer to how and from what position he will protect liberal democracy and the people.

If he dreams of the presidency, the basic requirement is to present a future vision for all citizens. If he gained the spotlight as a persecuted head of prosecution, now he must show a greater capacity. It is worth reflecting on the failure of Hwang Kyo-ahn, former Liberty Korea Party leader and former public security prosecutor. The ruling party’s phrase "Yoon-na-ttang (Thank you if Yoon Seok-yeol runs as a presidential candidate)" reflects the belief that former Prosecutor General Yoon’s appeal has limits.

Last October at the National Assembly, former Prosecutor General Yoon said, "After retirement, I will slowly think about how to serve our society and the people." On the 4th, when announcing his resignation, he said, "Wherever I am, I will do my utmost to protect liberal democracy and the people." "Liberal democracy and the people" are conservative terms. It seems there is no path other than politics, and "Yoon Seok-yeol’s politics" has already begun. Saying "I did not intend to go into politics" is far beyond the line already crossed.

Even within conservatism, the spectrum is diverse. Many believe it is unlikely that he, who led the "state affairs manipulation" investigation team, will immediately transform into a member of the People Power Party. It is more likely that he will expand his domain by maximizing the value of the name "Yoon Seok-yeol" in the third political zone. There is also speculation about a possible alliance with Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party. However, some analyses suggest that former Prosecutor General Yoon has already proposed to the People Power Party.

On the 3rd, he sharply criticized "검수완박 (complete removal of prosecution’s investigative authority)" as ultimately "corruption complete" ("부패완판"), at a venue in Daegu. Reminding that he started as a junior prosecutor at the Daegu District Prosecutors’ Office, he used expressions like "I feel like I’m home" and "the place that embraced me in hard times." He began his political career in what is called the conservative stronghold. The people are asking what vessel former Prosecutor General Yoon will use to hold his vision.

The April 7 by-elections are just around the corner. For the next month, all his actions will be tied to this. Whether intentional or not, he is already in a space-time where everything becomes politicized. He must use a language different from the indictment, which is refined dozens of times before completion. Yoon Seok-yeol, is he ready to answer the people’s questions?

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