'Gangneung's Outsider' Yoon, Gangwon Special Economic Autonomous Province... Criticism of Moon's Incompetence (Comprehensive)

Many Regulations Especially in Gangwon Province
All Central Government Regulations Abolished

COVID-19 and Daejang-dong Scandal
Cannot Be Considered a Normal Democratic Government

"Let's Start Special Prosecutor Law Negotiations"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Hyun-joo and Geum Bo-ryeong] Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, promised economic development during his two-day visit to Gangneung, Sokcho, and Chuncheon in Gangwon Province. As his first regional schedule since the launch of the campaign committee, he also referred to himself as the "Gangneung's grandson," showing a sense of familiarity.

On the 11th, near Daepo Port in Sokcho, Yoon held a field meeting named "Reviving Gangwon Province" and said, "I heard the Daepo Port development project took 17 years; I regret that it couldn't proceed faster," promising economic development through deregulation.

He stated, "During the primary process, I said I would transform Gangwon into a special economic autonomous province," adding, "I will abolish all central government regulations so that Gangwon Province can autonomously make decisions, take responsibility, and carry out development projects. If I take office in the next government, I will pilot the abolition of multi-layered regulations on Gangwon and immediately implement any changes that can be made by presidential decree."

He also said, "Gangwon Province especially has too many regulations," and "It would be good to abolish many of these regulations."

At the campaign committee launch ceremony held in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, he criticized the Moon Jae-in administration by citing the COVID-19 crisis and the Daejang-dong scandal. Yoon said, "I absolutely cannot just watch (the current situation)," and added, "This is not a country." He further pointed out, "There may be more than one or two symbolic examples representing this incompetent and corrupt administration, but looking at COVID-19 and the Daejang-dong scandal, this cannot be called a normal democratic government."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, who claimed he intends to proceed with a special prosecutor investigation excluding parts related to Yoon, Yoon directly responded, "Stop playing word games and start (the special prosecutor investigation) immediately." He said, "I have no intention to respond to Lee's remarks, but I don't understand what he means, and it changes daily. Please interpret it precisely and let me know," adding, "When did we say to include the special prosecutor investigation on the Busan Savings Bank case? The party with 180 seats should quickly enter negotiations with the opposition on the special prosecutor law."

When asked whether there was a discord with Kim Jong-in, the general campaign chairman, regarding the push for an additional budget related to loss compensation, he said, "Not at all," explaining, "The ruling party's candidate persuades the ruling party's president to first prepare and submit the supplementary budget bill to the National Assembly, and then politicians can discuss it among themselves."

Meanwhile, some commotion occurred during a meeting with the presidents of the 18 city and county prosperity associations in Gangwon Province. Some prosperity association presidents expressed dissatisfaction, saying the candidate did not properly listen to the region's voices and only took commemorative photos before leaving. In response, Lee Yang-su, the senior spokesperson of the campaign committee, explained, "We coordinated all the agendas with the prosperity associations, but it seems someone outside wanted to speak out and protested," adding, "That should be discussed within the prosperity association, not directed as a complaint to us."

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