Yoon Seok-yeol and Hong Joon-pyo Refute 'Excessive Investigation of Cho Kuk' Saying "Handled According to Standards and Procedures"

"Investigated Cases from Any Camp Equally"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential primary candidate, visited the birthplace of former President Park Chung-hee on the 17th and had a confrontation with some citizens. Photo by MBN News Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Yoon Seok-yeol, former Prosecutor General and presidential pre-candidate of the People Power Party, responded to Rep. Hong Joon-pyo's criticism of the investigation into former Minister Cho Kuk as an "excessive investigation" by saying, "It was an investigation conducted according to appropriate proportional principles."

On the 17th, after visiting the People Power Party members' council in Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Yoon told reporters, "I investigated cases from any camp equally, and handled any case according to the standards and procedures generally and normally applied to the people of the Republic of Korea."

Yoon said, "The public felt deprived and lost their pride as citizens seeing that the handling of the president's close aides and powerful figures was not done properly," adding, "This administration not only destroyed the country with outdated ideological economic policies but also created a shield to prevent judicial action against corruption and wrongdoing," raising criticism against the Moon Jae-in administration.

He continued, "With common sense and the rule of law collapsing like this, how can the economy, growth, and welfare follow?" and stated, "No matter how close someone around me is, if there is a fault, I will definitely hold them accountable in front of the public."

Regarding the controversy over his remark on the 13th at the National Andong University in Gyeongbuk, where he said, "Manual labor is done in Africa," Yoon explained, "It is absurd when the context is cut off," and added, "I urged students to prepare more, explaining that low value-added industries are moving from our country through China to places like India or Africa, so we need to create a high value-added industrial structure where high-skilled knowledge work is the main focus."

Meanwhile, during his visit to the birthplace of former President Park Chung-hee on the same day, Yoon faced strong protests from some citizens, leading to friction. Yoon said, "I fully understand the heartfelt feelings of the ardent supporters of former President Park Geun-hye," and added, "I think this is something I must endure."

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