Yoo Seung-min: "The Solution in the COVID Era is Economic Growth... I Am Different from Candidates with Legal Backgrounds"

"Yoon Seok-yeol X-File, If No Evidence, the People Will Judge"
"If a Candidate, Obliged to Clarify Facts on Raised Suspicions"
"Choi Jae-hyung Audit Chief's Presidential Run, the People Will Judge"

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, cited "economy" as his strength that differentiates him from former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol on the 24th. He also expressed his intention to run for the presidential election by putting "economic growth" at the forefront to resolve issues such as economic polarization. Yoo said that presidential candidates have an obligation to clarify any raised suspicions.

On the 24th, Yoo appeared on KBS Radio's Choi Kyung-young's "Strong Current Affairs" and cited "economy" as his strength. He said, "I have spent my entire life working on the economy, and I believe that the basic solution to various worsening issues after COVID-19 is economic growth," adding, "I think the power to solve problems like youth employment, housing, and welfare comes from the economy."

Yoo emphasized, "To truly solve polarization and inequality, the fundamental starting point is economic growth, and if we do not revive the economy that has been declining for 20 to 30 years as it is now, polarization and inequality will worsen," adding, "Since jobs are the best welfare, jobs should be created through growth, and welfare should be directed to the marginalized."

He said, "I have thought deeply about the economy for a long time, and if I become president, I have a clear vision and policies on how to lead the Korean economy," adding, "Except for me, most of the opposition are former judges or prosecutors, so I can bring significant differentiation."

In a recent public opinion poll commissioned by JTBC to Realmeter (conducted from the 19th to 20th, with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level; detailed information is available on the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website), Yoo ranked second with 14.4% in suitability among conservative opposition presidential candidates, following former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol (35.4%). Regarding this, he said, "The presidential election seems to have just begun," adding, "There is considerable potential for significant change."

Regarding former Prosecutor General Yoon’s X-file and related matters, Yoo said, "I do not know about it," but added, "If it is baseless, the public will make a wise judgment." However, he said, "As a candidate, if there are parts that the public is curious about or suspicions are raised regarding morality or policy capability, I believe there is an obligation to clearly explain the facts."

Regarding the presidential run of Audit and Inspection Chief Choi Jae-hyung, Yoo refrained from criticism, saying, "Running for president immediately after serving as Audit and Inspection Chief is something the public should judge rather than me criticizing as a competitor."

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