Spy Ring and Election Fraud Allegations 'All-In' Hwang Kyo-ahn: "I Am Walking the Path of Justice"

Presidential Candidate Relay Interview ⑪ Former Future United Party Leader Hwang Kyo-ahn
"We Must Not Respond Carelessly to Spy Cases"
"If the Ruling Party Uses Perfect Fraud Election Techniques, Next Year's Election Is Meaningless"
"The Old Hwang Kyo-ahn Is Dead"
"Now I Have Become Hwang Kyo-ahn Who Makes Bold Decisions and Takes Care of Comrades"
"Lee Jun-seok Should Focus on What He Does Well"

[Asia Economy Reporters Naju-seok and Hyunju Lee] "Was the spy ring incident only in Cheongju?"

Former Representative Hwang Kyo-ahn. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

On the 24th, Hwang Kyo-ahn, former leader of the United Future Party and a presidential candidate of the People Power Party, raised his voice during an interview with this paper at his office in Yeongdeungpo-gu, referring to the Cheongju spy ring incident as a matter concerning the "security of the nation." Former leader Hwang said, "North Korea's United Front Department is the place that conducts operations against South Korea, and it issued orders to interfere in our politics and to destroy the opposition party," adding, "In 2013, there was also the Lee Seok-ki incident involving the Gyeonggi Eastern Alliance. Wouldn't there have been spy rings elsewhere? Spy rings are still operating covertly now; can we afford to take this issue lightly?" Former leader Hwang was the Minister of Justice at the time of the Lee Seok-ki incident, which led to the dissolution of the Unified Progressive Party, the first-ever party dissolution in constitutional history.

Former Representative Hwang Kyo-ahn. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Since declaring his presidential candidacy, former leader Hwang has focused more on the Cheongju spy ring incident and demands for a special investigation into the alleged fraud in the April 15 general election rather than announcing policy pledges. He stated, "In a normal country, all efforts must be made to catch spies," and insisted, "The full scope and details of the spy incidents must be revealed through a special investigation." He also mentioned the situation in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of U.S. troops, warning, "Now is not the time to be complacent," and "An ant can drill a small hole and bring down a dam."

Regarding the last general election, which dealt him a political blow, he raised suspicions of election fraud. Former leader Hwang showed several ballots stored on his cellphone and said, "If the presidential election is conducted using perfected election fraud techniques, the next presidential election will be meaningless," emphasizing, "If this is not prevented, the next election will have no significance. This is a problem of today and tomorrow." Despite being ignored within his party, he described raising suspicions of election fraud as "the path of justice."

During the interview, former leader Hwang also pledged, "The old Hwang Kyo-ahn is dead. Now, when necessary, I will make bold decisions and take care of my comrades." He said, "I thought about changing old-fashioned politics, but politics is reality, so to continue, I need comrades to work with," and added, "In the past, I considered factions as old-fashioned politics, but the reborn Hwang Kyo-ahn will seek comrades to work with," revealing his changed will for power.

Former Representative Hwang Kyo-ahn. / Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Regarding Lee Jun-seok, the party leader, former leader Hwang said, "Even politicians cannot do everything well," and advised, "There are things he does well and areas where he may be lacking, so I want to tell him to work hard on the parts he is good at." He added, "Having many young people join the party is a positive aspect, but conflicts and clashes arise in areas where he lacks experience or is not performing well," and said, "I think this is growing pains, and I believe he will overcome them well."

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