Im Jong-seok: "Yoon's 'political revenge' reckless remarks... With Kim Geon-hee added, may face a 'monster regime'"

Yoon: "There is no 'political revenge' in my dictionary"

Im Jong-seok, former Chief of Staff to the President. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Former Presidential Chief of Staff Lim Jong-seok criticized Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, over his recent controversial remark about "clearing out the deep-rooted evils of the previous administration" if elected, saying, "No candidate has ever made the reckless statement of 'investigating the previous administration if elected' during an election."

On the 10th, Lim posted on his social media (SNS), "Only candidate Yoon has revealed his true intention of political revenge," expressing his criticism.

He said, "Candidate Yoon, who has been a prosecutor all his life, and Han Dong-hoon, whom he calls an 'independence activist,' are clear prosecutors' partisans," and added, "With the addition of the confident Ms. Kim Geon-hee's supernatural abilities, we might face a monstrous regime we have never seen before."

He continued, "We might encounter a regime mixed with Kwak Sang-do's 5 billion Club, Kim Geon-hee (Kim Myung-shin), state affairs manipulation, and unchecked prosecutorial power," and said, "The greatest enemy of democracy is the merger of those in power." He added, "It could become a reality where the regime privatizes the prosecution, and political prosecutors privatize the regime?something unheard of."

Lim stated, "The media is clamoring that the fate of the Republic of Korea will be decided by the presidential election results, but I do not think so. Korea will advance beyond the election results," but he also noted, "The problem is the cost we have to pay."

Furthermore, he said, "Even though we lost former President Roh Moo-hyun and endured agonizing pain, Korea developed, but it paid a heartbreaking price," and added, "Despite passing through the Lee Myung-bak administration riddled with corruption and the Park Geun-hye administration stained by Choi Soon-sil's (Choi Seo-won's) state affairs manipulation, Korea developed, but the people had to pay the cost of putting aside their livelihoods and taking to the streets."

He concluded, "I only hope this imagination is my misguided worry," and wrote, "As President Kim Dae-jung said, I am filled with the thought that I must at least curse at the wall or do something."

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is answering questions at the 'Cheer Up Taxi! Communication Day' policy meeting held on the afternoon of the 8th at the Transportation Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News Agency, National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Meanwhile, earlier, when asked in an interview with a media outlet whether he would pursue clearing out the deep-rooted evils of the previous administration in the next government, candidate Yoon said, "I will," but added, "The investigation conducted early in the current administration was done according to constitutional principles, and if the next government investigates their own corruption and illegalities, is that revenge?" However, he stated, "The president will not be involved."

In response, a senior Blue House official expressed, "Very displeased," and said, "Even in an election, there are lines that must be respected." Candidate Yoon retorted, "If I think there is nothing problematic, wouldn't there be no reason to be displeased?"

Additionally, on the 10th, candidate Yoon emphasized, "The word 'political revenge' does not exist in my dictionary." He added, "Since last summer, I have said that if I am elected, I will abolish the Office of Civil Affairs to make it clear that I will not interfere in any investigations or prosecutions."

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