'X-Files', Spokesperson Resignation: Yoon Seok-yeol Faces Consecutive Setbacks... Can Direct Confrontation Work? [Han Seung-gon's Political Notebook]

Yoon Seok-yeol's Side "Will Not Respond to X-File"
Lee Jun-seok "Already Expected Attacks from Pan-Opposition Candidates... Will Receive Support if Joining Our Party"

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol attended the opening ceremony of the Udang Memorial Hall located in Namsan Yejang Park, Jung-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 9th, and was surrounded by reporters after viewing the exhibits. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Yoon Seok-yeol, a leading opposition presidential candidate, has faced a series of setbacks. The Democratic Party of Korea is pressing Yoon over the so-called 'Yoon Seok-yeol X-file.' Additionally, with his spokesperson Lee Dong-hoon suddenly resigning, attention is focused on how Yoon will handle this situation. For now, Yoon has chosen to confront the issue head-on.

◆ Jang Sung-chul: "Obtained a file summarizing allegations against former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, his wife, and mother-in-law"

Political commentator Jang Sung-chul, director of the Gonggam and Debate Policy Center, announced on the 19th via his social media that he had obtained the so-called 'X-file' containing allegations related to Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife. He stated, "Recently, I acquired a partially documented file summarizing allegations against former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, his wife, and mother-in-law," adding, "There is no way to verify whether the allegations are true. However, some of the information was already known, and some were rumors I had heard."

He continued, "A more detailed X-file is likely in the possession of Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea," and said, "As someone who earnestly desires a change of government, I had high expectations for Yoon, but after much consideration, I concluded that it would be very difficult for someone facing such allegations to be chosen by the people."

Jang also pointed out, "Judging comprehensively by Yoon's current actions, wording, and decisions, it seems he is intoxicated by his high approval ratings and is unprepared and ill-equipped to respond," adding, "I think it will be difficult for him to defend himself. It also reminds me a lot of the 'Evian Ban Ki-moon' scent."

He further remarked, "I do not believe that amateur political aides such as professors and lawyers, who have not directly experienced presidential primaries and general elections, can provide proper responses and judgments," and noted, "This is evident from Yoon distancing himself from top experts like Kim Jong-in."

The 'Yoon Seok-yeol X-file' was mentioned last month by Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. At that time, Song said, "We are steadily preparing files on numerous incidents involving Yoon Seok-yeol." Although the 'X-file' had not been substantiated and was dismissed as mere negative campaigning, it resurfaced after a conservative commentator claimed to have obtained it.

◆ "Unable to continue spokesperson duties due to health and other reasons"

On the morning of the 20th around 7 a.m., former spokesperson Lee Dong-hoon posted a message in a KakaoTalk group chat with reporters covering Yoon Seok-yeol, stating, "I am stepping down from my position due to personal reasons." Lee had started serving as Yoon's spokesperson on the 10th but abruptly resigned just ten days later.

Following Lee's resignation, Yoon's public relations duties have been taken over by the newly appointed spokesperson Lee Sang-rok. Through a message in the group chat, it was explained, "On the afternoon of the 19th, Lee Dong-hoon expressed that he could no longer perform his spokesperson duties due to health and other reasons, and Yoon accepted this with regret."

There has been much speculation in political circles about Lee's resignation. Some suggest that differences between Yoon's views and Lee's direction may have led to this outcome.

In an interview on the 18th, Lee responded to the question, "Can we assume Yoon's entry into the People Power Party is a given?" by saying, "I think that would be acceptable." However, Yoon soon issued a rebuttal through Lee, stating, "Regarding party membership, I will act cautiously and deliberately, like a mountain, without rash moves."

In another interview, when asked if there were any disagreements with Yoon, Lee replied, "I leave that to your interpretation," suggesting the possibility of some differences of opinion between Yoon and Lee.

On the 20th, Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, is giving a greeting at the 'Gather at Gangnam Station' event held in front of Exit 11 of Gangnam Station. At this event hosted by the office of Assemblyman Tae Young-ho, Leader Lee Jun-seok spent two hours talking with citizens.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

◆ Lee Jun-seok: "Extremely inappropriate remarks... The parties involved should disclose the contents"

The opposition immediately countered the ruling party's 'Yoon Seok-yeol X-file' offensive. On the 20th, Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, after holding a citizen dialogue event called 'Gather at Gangnam Station,' told reporters, "I judge that it is highly likely the contents are either untrue or insignificant." He added, "I am confident. The Moon Jae-in administration made great efforts to suppress Yoon Seok-yeol, but if there were any flaws or wrongdoings worthy of circulating as an X-file document, they would have used it to pressure Yoon last year."

Regarding the public mention of the X-file within the opposition the previous day, Lee said, "I consider it an extremely inappropriate way to bring it up," and added, "I fundamentally expect more slander against Yoon in the future, and as Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member, said, if there is an X-file, the parties who know its contents should disclose them."

When asked if the party would prepare countermeasures if Yoon joined, Lee replied, "I have never seen the contents, so I will not make a preemptive judgment," but added, "Various attacks against opposition candidates were already expected, and we have know-how and professional personnel to respond to negative campaigns, as seen in the Seoul mayoral election. Therefore, if he becomes an opposition candidate, he will receive support from our party from the moment he joins."

Meanwhile, Yoon's camp announced on the 20th that they would not respond to the so-called 'X-file' allegations. Yoon's spokesperson Lee Sang-rok told Yonhap News Agency, "Since we do not even know if the 'X-file' actually exists, we have decided not to respond to this matter."

Additionally, regarding the possibility that Yoon's presidential bid declaration might be delayed amid Lee Dong-hoon's resignation after only ten days and the emergence of the 'X-file' allegations, Lee Sang-rok reportedly said, "That will not happen."

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