Yoo Seung-min: "President Moon Should Resolve MB and Park Pardons Himself... If Not, I Will"

Yoo Seung-min "If elected, early pardon during term... Will reveal thoughts on political revenge during regime change"

Former lawmaker and People Power Party presidential candidate Yoo Seung-min is giving an interview to the media at his campaign office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 22nd. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] Yoo Seung-min, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party and former lawmaker, stated regarding the pardon issue of former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, "President Moon Jae-in, who ordered former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl to imprison the two former presidents, should take responsibility and resolve this matter."

In an interview with Yonhap News on the 22nd, Yoo was asked whether he would pardon the two former presidents if elected, given that the current administration has not done so. He replied, "I will honestly explain to the public early in my term and grant pardons, while expressing my thoughts on the recurring issue of political retaliation that happens with every regime change."

He added, "I believe there is a considerable possibility that President Moon will resolve this issue within his term," but if Moon does not, Yoo said he would pardon them early in his own term. He further stated, "The two former presidents, Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak, must first honestly explain to the public early in the term what charges they were imprisoned for."

When asked if a 'golden cross' would be possible within this month, he said, "There are still many debates left, but general public opinion polls feel positive," and added, "I am very curious whether the TK (Daegu-Gyeongbuk) region will dramatically shift in my favor at the last moment." He emphasized, "There must be changes among party members to secure first place. Ultimately, the core of change among party members is the TK."

Meanwhile, regarding Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung and former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, he said, "If both become candidates and compete, it will be worth watching," and added, "In the presidential election, the morality, dignity, and qualifications of the president are about the same between the two."

On the suspicion of preferential treatment in the Daejang-dong development project in Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province, Yoo emphasized, "Looking at the structure of Daejang-dong, (Governor Lee) could not have been unaware," and said, "Someone as smart as candidate Lee could not have been unaware of who was taking the money in this structure while approving so frequently and so many times."

Regarding the allegations of instigating accusations surrounding former Prosecutor General Yoon, Yoo stated, "If evidence directly linking him emerges in the related investigation, candidate Yoon will also be in trouble," and criticized, "If Yoon becomes president, I am not sure whether he will properly carry out the liquidation of the Moon Jae-in administration as our party desires."

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