[Full Text] Yoon Seok-yeol "Starting from the Great Common Sense of the People, We Must Reclaim the Stolen National Sovereignty" (Update)

by Lee Hyeonjoo

Published 29 Jun.2021 13:49(KST)

"What Kind of Democracy Does This Regime Actually Want?"

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is declaring his candidacy for the 20th presidential election on the afternoon of the 29th at the Maeheon Yun Bong-gil Memorial Hall in Seocho-gu, Seoul. 2021.6.29 Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol held a press conference on the 29th at the Maehun Yun Bong-gil Memorial Hall in Seocho-gu, Seoul, announcing his intention to enter politics. It has been 118 days since Yoon resigned from his position as Prosecutor General.

Yoon said, "I will start from the common sense of the great people who built today’s Republic of Korea through industrialization and democratization," adding, "With that common sense as a weapon, I will resolutely restore the fallen values of liberal democracy, the rule of law, and fairness that transcend eras and generations."

He criticized, "Four years ago, the Moon Jae-in administration was launched with the hopes and expectations of the people, but what has happened since then? This administration not only privatizes power but also seeks to extend its rule to continue plundering the people." He continued, "They are trying to remove freedom from liberal democracy, which is the foundation of our constitution. Democracy exists to protect freedom, and freedom sets limits on government power. What kind of democracy does this administration want? We absolutely cannot stand by and watch them continue as they are."

Yoon, who came forward with a desperate desire to achieve a change of government, emphasized, "Even if nine out of ten thoughts differ, all those who share the one thought?that we must normalize the country through a change of government and create a nation where the people are the true owners?must unite their strength. When people with different views come together, we become stronger. Then we can reclaim the sovereignty that was taken from the people."

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The following is the full text of former Prosecutor General Yoon’s press conference statement.

Message to the People

Respected citizens,

Since stepping down from public office in early March, I have met many people.

They all consistently expressed concern for the future of our country. They asked, "Can the country really be like this?"

Cheonan ship young man Jeon Jun-young was angry. K-9 young man Lee Chan-ho wrote a book not out of grievance but so that he would not be forgotten. The surviving heroes found living itself painful. They asked why the state, which they protected and defended, now abandons them. A self-employed person in Mapo asked how much longer they must endure and why the state only demands sacrifice. These are heroes who built and protected the Republic of Korea. I, Yoon Seok-yeol, will stand with them. I will start from the common sense of the great people who built today’s Republic of Korea through industrialization and democratization.

With that common sense as a weapon, I will resolutely restore the fallen values of liberal democracy, the rule of law, and fairness that transcend eras and generations. Before pondering what justice is, I will make sure everyone can feel justice in their daily lives. This is the mission engraved in my heart.

Four years ago, the Moon Jae-in administration was launched with the hopes and expectations of the people. It promised to create a country where "opportunities are equal, processes are fair, and results are just" and a country "without privileges and unfair advantages." We all remember this clearly. But what has happened since then?

Income-led growth ignoring economic common sense, housing policies that fought the market, the abandonment of world-class technology through the nuclear phase-out policy, and populist policies close to vote-buying have caused suffering for countless young people, self-employed workers, small business owners, and low-wage workers. The rapid increase in government debt has burdened the youth generation, who cannot even find decent jobs, with enormous future debt. Even when young people barely find jobs, they sigh as they watch skyrocketing housing prices. The frustration of young people is driving the Republic of Korea toward a demographic cliff.

The administration divided the people into friends and foes, throwing aside common sense, fairness, and the rule of law, thereby undermining the foundation of the country and plunging the people into despair and anger. The outrageous acts committed by this administration are too numerous to list. A small cartel of vested interests intertwined with the regime privatizes power and builds a food chain paralyzed in responsibility and ethics.

This administration not only privatizes power but also seeks to extend its rule to continue plundering the people. They are trying to remove "freedom" from liberal democracy, which is the foundation of our constitution. Democracy exists to protect freedom, and freedom sets limits on government power. Therefore, democracy without freedom is not true democracy but dictatorship and despotism. What kind of democracy does this administration want? We absolutely cannot stand by and watch them continue as they are.

There is a misunderstanding that liberal democracy is for winners and disregards others. Humans are inherently equal beings. Therefore, no one can dominate another, and the freedom of every individual must be guaranteed. However, in a liberal democratic state, not only is my freedom precious, but so are the freedom and dignified lives of others. Without the economic foundation and educational opportunities necessary for a dignified life, freedom is hollow. Winner-takes-all is never liberal democracy. Solidarity and responsibility to protect freedom are important. And this is the right of the people who pursue liberal democracy.

The international community is rapidly shifting to a system where core advanced technologies and industrial facilities are shared only among countries that share the values of human rights, the rule of law, and liberal democracy. Diplomacy, security, economy, domestic issues, and international relations have become inseparable. Now wars are not fought with guns but with semiconductor chips. The Republic of Korea must clearly show its firm stance based on the universal values of civilized nations. We must demonstrate a clear national identity so that enemies and friends, competitors and collaborators alike can predict our actions.

We are now facing an era where the technological foundation of the economic and social system is undergoing a revolutionary change. Ultra-high-speed information processing technology, unimaginable in the past, is greatly transforming our lives. We cannot reject the social changes brought by the technological revolution. Continuing to work as we did in the past will cause us to fall behind in the international division of labor and become a low-productivity country.

To overcome the challenges of this new technological revolution era, innovation in science, technology, and socio-economic systems is essential. Innovation arises from free and creative thinking, an autonomous atmosphere, fair opportunities and rewards, and predictable rule of law. Creativity and innovation grow nourished by broad freedom of expression, fairness, common sense, and the rule of law.

It is delusional to expect fairness, liberal democracy, and innovation from an arrogant regime that tramples on law and common sense right before the eyes of the people. The political forces that cannot even solve the current problems of people’s livelihoods and cause the people to suffer have neither the ability nor the will to prepare for and respond to the new technological revolution era. If their rule is extended, the future of the Republic of Korea will be as clear as day.

Our people know all this. They will no longer be deceived by their deception and false propaganda. Now we must stop the extension of power and plundering of the people by these corrupt and incompetent forces. All citizens and forces who agree with this must unite their strength. Therefore, we must achieve a change of government.

Despite many shortcomings, I have received much encouragement and support from the people. I have regarded this as encouragement not to be intimidated while enforcing the law against the living power. However, even after resigning from public office, the people understood the inevitability of my resignation and continuously sent their support and encouragement. I have deeply reflected on this meaning. It was a call to dedicate myself and take the lead in changing the government so that forces that destroy fairness and common sense and deny freedom and the rule of law do not extend their rule and cause suffering to the people.

Change of government must be achieved.

If we fail to achieve a change of government, the country will become one where demagogues who call deterioration and destruction reform and dictatorship and despotism democracy, along with corrupt vested interest cartels, will run rampant more than now, causing the people to suffer for a long time. It will truly become a "corruption-complete" Republic of Korea. Failing to respond to the people’s desire for change of government is an unforgivable sin before the people and history.

I, Yoon Seok-yeol, have stepped forward with a desperate determination to achieve a change of government. This administration, backed by a huge parliamentary majority and vested interest cartels, is formidable. Therefore, even if nine out of ten thoughts differ, all those who share the one thought?that we must normalize the country through a change of government and create a nation where the people are the true owners?must unite their strength. When people with different views come together, we become stronger. Only then can we win. Then we can reclaim the sovereignty that was taken from the people.

I have no experience in frontline politics. However, I have served 26 years in public office with the belief that I must work solely for the people according to their will, not for the power holder with personnel authority. I have personally experienced that realizing the values of law, justice, and liberal democracy in reality is not as easy as it sounds. The people have seen all that I have gone through in the process of realizing fairness and the rule of law. Politics is about solving the people’s livelihood issues and preparing for the future. Fairness and the rule of law are essential fundamental values for solving our issues and preparing for the future. Establishing these values is the beginning of politics for the people.

Dear citizens, I dare say that I am ready to devote and dedicate everything for the future of the people and the nation. I will join forces with all those who long for a change of government and accomplish it decisively.

I will create a country where the youth who will bear our future do not feel anger, where those who sacrificed for the nation do not feel anger, where those who devoted their lives to industrialization do not feel anger, where those who dedicated themselves to democratization and live quietly do not feel anger, and where taxpayers do not feel anger.

And I will surely build a dynamic country where young people can run freely, a country of innovation filled with freedom and creativity, a warm country where the weak are not intimidated, and a country that shares values with the international community and fulfills its responsibilities.

Great people, we can do it. Stay strong.