Yoon Suk-yeol: "Busan Savings Bank Loans Were Not Within the Scope of Investigation at That Time"

At Gwanhun Club Debate
"Thankful for the chance to explain"
Not an SPC illicit loan
Loaned to the business owner

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is delivering opening remarks at the Kwanhun Club invitation debate held on the 14th at the International Conference Hall of the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Boryeong Geum] On the 14th, Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, appeared at a debate and candidly addressed various allegations including the accusation of instigating complaints, the inadequate investigation of the Daejang-dong case, and controversies related to his family. He also showed confidence by strongly denying some questions with raised voice. When questions about his personal background were mainly raised early in the debate, Yoon expressed gratitude for the opportunity to explain, saying "Thank you."

The Kwanhun Club debate held that morning at the Korea Press Center in Seoul began with Yoon emphasizing the necessity of a "regime change" in his opening remarks, followed by questions about the accusation of instigating complaints. When a journalist from the Kwanhun Club asked whether then-Prosecutor Son Jun-sung sent materials related to complaints against ruling party figures via Telegram under Yoon's orders as Prosecutor General, Yoon responded, "There was no reason to give such an order, nor did I ever do so," and rebutted, "If there is a rights violation, we should handle it ourselves; there is absolutely no reason to entrust this to the opposition party." He added, "From my perspective, there was no order given, and I have no way of knowing how this so-called Telegram transmission happened." Regarding Prosecutor Son being sent by then-Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, Yoon firmly stated, "I have absolutely no reason to discuss such matters with a prosecutor executive in that position."

When asked why the loan case involving Busan Savings Bank related to the Daejang-dong project was not investigated, Yoon explained, "Regarding Daejang-dong, Busan Savings Bank created a Special Purpose Company (SPC) and co-invested with the project operator, so it is judged that the loan was given to the Daejang-dong operator, not an illicit loan to the SPC." He continued, "If a person named Jo, the major shareholder of Busan Savings Bank, received a large amount as a loan fee, it is considered a normal loan by Busan Savings Bank. This was outside the scope of the investigation at the time."

Regarding other allegations such as former Yongsan Tax Office chief Yoon Woo-jin's lawyer referral or his spouse's involvement in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case, Yoon strongly denied them, saying, "I am not in such a position. I had no knowledge at all." On the controversy over his wife Kim Geon-hee's "false career" that surfaced that day, Yoon mostly denied it and said, "I understand it as her expressing grievance, but the way she responded to the media seems inappropriate."

However, Yoon also stated that if it is proven that the thesis related to his wife's doctoral degree acquisition process is false, she would return the degree before cancellation. Yoon said, "It is not plagiarism; since it is an experimental thesis, I do not know if the academic value is weak, but I have doubts about whether plagiarism is severe enough to cancel the degree." He added, "If the university autonomously judges that the plagiarism rate is over 20% and it is difficult to acknowledge, given my wife's personality, I think she would voluntarily return it."

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