Yoon Seok-yeol: "Regarding Jeon Du-hwan remarks, it might have been acceptable if he were a Democratic Party candidate, but since he belongs to the People Power Party..."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Naju-seok and Park Joon-yi] Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, apologized again on the 28th for his remarks defending former President Jeon Du-hwan. However, Yoon added that, as the People Power Party's candidate, he felt he might have touched on the trauma of the Honam people.

At a Korea Broadcasting Journalists Club invitation debate held at the Mokdong Broadcasting Hall in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, Yoon said, "Candidate Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea also made harsher remarks than mine about Jeon Du-hwan, but I did not evaluate him as an excellent politician overall. I meant that we should learn from certain aspects during his tenure." He added, "If the Democratic Party candidate had made such remarks, it might have been acceptable, but since it was the People Power Party candidate, I think it triggered the trauma of the Honam people, and I deeply apologize for that." This subtly revealed his view that the controversy arose more because of his party affiliation than the remarks themselves.

Earlier, in October this year, Yoon said at a meeting with party members, "If you exclude the military coup and the May 18 incident, many say that (former President Jeon) was good at politics. There are quite a few people in Honam who say so as well." Yoon later explained that the remark referred to 'delegation of authority,' but as backlash continued, he apologized, saying, "I express my apologies to those who suffered under the Jeon Du-hwan regime."

Yoon also addressed the controversy over his gaffe. When criticized for responsibility over the slip, Yoon said, "It is my fault," but added, "The political world is different from the public office or academic worlds, and if you give the opponent an opportunity, it can always be distorted and attacked. Perhaps I did not handle that well." He continued, "I believe that while the people's criticism should be accepted and embraced, political responsibility must also be taken."

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