Jin Joong-kwon, "It's being settled" on recording dispute, "Lee Jun-seok, insisting on winning makes it worse"

"Won Hee-ryong Understands as 'Candidate Consolidation,' Lee Jun-seok Explains as 'Conflict Resolution'"

Former Dongyang University Professor Jin Joong-kwon. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon criticized People Power Party presidential pre-candidate Won Hee-ryong's revelation of Lee Jun-seok's "It will be settled" remark, saying, "(Lee) insists on winning at all costs, so the issue is getting bigger and bigger."

On the 18th, former professor Jin shared an image of the recorded phone call between Lee and former Governor Won, which Lee had made public on Facebook, and pointed out this after a netizen commented, "Former Governor Won crossed the line."

Earlier, on the 17th, after announcing his pledge at the National Assembly Communication Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, former Governor Won claimed that Lee had said in a phone call on August 12, "Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl will soon be settled."

In response, Lee released the recording of the phone call that night. In the recording, when former Governor Won expressed concern about the intra-party conflicts surrounding the presidential primary by saying, "Those who are fighting now will all need to know later," Lee replied, "Don't worry," and "That will be settled soon." Lee insists that the subject of "will be settled" was not former Prosecutor General Yoon but the conflicts during the primary process.

Regarding this, former professor Jin said, "Won Hee-ryong understood it as 'Since the approval rating is dropping, former Prosecutor General Yoon will soon be settled as a candidate,' while Lee Jun-seok explained it as 'Since the approval rating is dropping, this conflict will soon be settled,'" and added, "judge for yourselves which interpretation is more natural."

When a netizen commented that "Governor Won's interpretation was wrong," former professor Jin argued, "It seems clearer when looking at the context. The causal connection with approval ratings is actually more natural in the first interpretation (Won Hee-ryong's position)."

He then pointed out, "It would be appropriate for (Lee) to say, 'My expression was inaccurate, and former Governor Won misunderstood. That was not what I meant. I regret it,' and end it there," adding, "There is nothing good about dragging this out. But because he insists on winning at all costs, the issue is getting bigger and bigger."

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