Yoon Seok-yeol "Meeting with Moon? No reason to request... Will pardon MB and Park early in administration if elected"

"Amnesty is necessary for national unity... I believe it's time for you to return home"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, is giving an interview to Yonhap News Agency at his campaign office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 7th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, stated, "If elected president, I will push for the pardon of former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye early in my administration." Regarding the possibility of a meeting with President Moon Jae-in, he dismissed it by saying, "There is no reason to request a meeting."

In an interview with Yonhap News on the 7th, Candidate Yoon said, "National unity is necessary for the future, and if a pardon is needed for national unity, it must be done."

He emphasized, "I think it is time for them to return home," adding, "Of course, I will also ask the public for their opinions and carefully understand social consensus and the will of the people, but in any case, I intend to push forward with it."

He continued, "If there is resistance, I will also persuade," and added, "A pardon is a presidential authority, but it is not the concept of 'I exercise my authority myself.' I will listen to the public's opinions and persuade well to promote the pardon."

Regarding controversies during the primary process such as 'defending Jeon Du-hwan' and the 'dog apology photo,' he said, "Politicians are always evaluated differently from their intentions, and some people may feel uncomfortable about that, so I have learned a lot." He then mentioned an anecdote about former U.S. President Barack Obama, saying, "A junior sent me a story that even a politician like former President Obama, who speaks precisely, had a hard time managing the situation after making remarks that belittled the sacrificed U.S. troops. What reason would there have been to say such things while campaigning?"

When asked about his 'personal feelings toward President Moon Jae-in,' Yoon replied, "As a public figure and presidential candidate, it is not appropriate to mention personal thoughts about any major public official."

When told, "The Blue House says it will consider a meeting with the president if the opposition presidential candidate requests it," he drew a line by saying, "Who would request a meeting? I have no reason to request a meeting."

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