Yoon Prosecutors Compared to 'Nazi Collaborators' by Lee Jae-myung: "Reform Won't Work... Major Surgery Needed"

"Revisiting the 'Dangerous Elite' Image of Nazi Collaborators"

Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province and presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Lee Jae-myung, the leading presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, mentioned 'Nazi' while criticizing former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol.

On the 10th, Lee wrote on his Facebook, "'Loyalty to the organization, diligence in duty, and fulfilling assigned roles'?this was the attitude shown by those who collaborated with the Nazis after World War II," emphasizing, "This shows that diligence devoid of the inherent value of humanity can always become a means for great evil."

He continued, "However, when such misguided diligence belongs to elites, the danger doubles," and pointed out, "Moreover, if those elites are public officials entrusted with immense authority by the people, the problem becomes even more serious."

Lee stated, "The 'dangerous elites' who collaborated with the Nazis left an indelible stain on the history of the German people," adding, "I see the image of a group of 'dangerous elites' again in Yoon Seok-yeol's prosecution in 2021."

He further argued, "I will not jump to conclusions, but the elites in Seocho-dong seem to have already become monsters," and claimed, "Reform alone will no longer suffice. Major surgery is needed. Malignant tumors must be removed, and the rotten parts excised."

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, a presidential primary candidate of the People Power Party, is attending the 'People's Signal Interview' held at Jeul Studio in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 10th, listening to the interviewer's questions. / Photo by Yonhap News

On the same day, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) registered former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol as a suspect in connection with the so-called 'accusation solicitation suspicion.' After a meeting with the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations, Yoon briefly responded to reporters, "Go ahead and register me."

The accusation solicitation suspicion centers on allegations that during Yoon's tenure, the prosecution solicited accusations against pro-government figures and politicians to the United Future Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party).

Regarding these allegations, Yoon's side dismissed them as "a stereotyped political conspiracy." Kim Byung-min, spokesperson for Yoon's campaign, stated in a commentary on the 7th, "The ruling party is making every effort to bring down candidate Yoon, but all their claims are baseless."

On the afternoon of the 10th, Yoon also attended the People Power Party's 'National Signal Interview' held at 'Jle Studio' in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul. When questioned about the accusation solicitation suspicion, he rebutted, "Solicitation basically means a higher person ordering a subordinate, a strong person ordering a weak person," adding, "The idea that the Prosecutor General solicited accusations to a party with over 100 members of the National Assembly is itself an enormous fabricated frame."

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