"Strong Anger" Yoon's 'Deep-rooted Evil Investigation' in Presidential Election Politics, Ruling and Opposition Parties in 'Strong vs. Strong' Confrontation [Han Seung-gon's Political Notebook]

President Moon Expresses Unprecedented Anger
Lee Jae-myung "Truly Regrettable, Seems to Be Strengthening Intent for Political Retaliation"
Lee Hae-chan "Are You Saying There Could Be Deep-rooted Evils in Moon Jae-in Government?" Direct Criticism

President Moon Jae-in is delivering a greeting at a luncheon meeting with young adults preparing for independence held at the Blue House on the 10th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "If I come to power, I will investigate the deep-rooted evils of the previous administration."

This statement made by Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party candidate, in a recent interview with a media outlet has shaken the presidential election landscape. President Moon Jae-in unusually targeted Yoon, expressing "strong anger" and sharply criticizing him.

Presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung also criticized Yoon and called for an apology. Former Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan likewise condemned Yoon, declaring his remarks as political retaliation. Fierce exchanges of harsh claims have erupted even among supporters of both ruling and opposition parties, leading to a head-to-head confrontation in the presidential election less than a month away.

On the 10th, President Moon expressed "strong anger and demands an apology" toward Yoon. This came after Yoon’s remarks on the 9th, in which he announced plans to investigate the "deep-rooted evils of the current administration" if he comes to power, prompting the Blue House to state that it was "very inappropriate and unpleasant," followed by President Moon’s rare direct expression of anger toward Yoon.

During a Blue House staff meeting that morning, President Moon said, "Is (Yoon) implying that while serving as the head of the Central District Prosecutors’ Office and Prosecutor General, he turned a blind eye to the deep-rooted evils of this government? Or is he planning to fabricate nonexistent deep-rooted evils through planned investigations? He must answer." He added, "I express strong anger and demand an apology for baselessly labeling the current government as a target of deep-rooted evil investigations and illegal acts," according to an urgent briefing by Park Soo-hyun, the President’s Senior Secretary for Public Communication.

Along with President Moon’s fury, the Democratic Party is also expressing anger. Former Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan strongly condemned Yoon’s remarks on the 9th when his interview was reported.

In a post titled "Who else is Yoon Seok-yeol trying to slander and shed crocodile tears for?" on the 'Lee Jae-myung Plus' application, Lee said, "Today, Yoon declared political retaliation against the Moon Jae-in administration. He says he will clear out the deep-rooted evils of the Moon administration," adding, "It’s outrageous. How can there be deep-rooted evils in the Moon administration, which has endured prosecution, the Board of Audit and Inspection, and conservative media for less than five years, and has been fully committed to K-quarantine and becoming a G10 (Group of Ten) country?"

Additionally, Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye expressed strong regret. On the morning of the 11th, he told reporters, "Yoon said he would investigate the deep-rooted evils of the current government, but since he was previously Prosecutor General, there are many concerns," and added, "It is very regrettable."

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate (left), and Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate, are attending the 2022 presidential candidate invitation debate jointly hosted by six broadcasting companies and organized by the Korea Association of Journalists at the Maeil Business Newspaper Media Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 11th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 12th, presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung also directly attacked Yoon through Facebook. In a post titled "Candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, are you planning to change tomorrow through political retaliation?" Lee criticized, "Candidate Yoon has still not apologized for political retaliation," and "Rather, it seems he is strengthening his intention for political retaliation, which is truly deplorable."

Lee said, "Candidate Yoon said he would be a 'president who changes tomorrow,'" adding, "You cannot change tomorrow through political retaliation. Don’t just brush it off; reflect on your political retaliation remarks and apologize." He also emphasized, "And let me be clear: I will not engage in political retaliation. I don’t even have the luxury to do such things."

He continued, "We are in a crisis now. People are struggling to make a living tomorrow. Even if we mobilize all national capabilities, including talent policies, to overcome this crisis, it is not enough.

What is needed now is unity and reconciliation, not retaliation and division. I hope you keep this in mind."

As the ruling party continued to demand an apology from Yoon for his remarks, Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, expressed strong displeasure. After former Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan’s expression of regret, Lee Jun-seok posted on his Facebook on the 11th, questioning the ruling party’s demand for an apology from Yoon, saying, "Why do they keep clinging to the opposition candidate asking for an apology when they themselves have suddenly lost control?"

As fierce debates over Yoon’s remarks erupted in the political arena, exchanges also took place among supporters. A man in his 40s who identified himself as a People Power Party supporter said, "Looking at the Democratic Party’s stance, it sounds as if something untouchable was touched," and raised his voice, "If there is a problem, isn’t it natural to investigate, not call it deep-rooted evils?"

Among Democratic Party supporters, harsh criticism was voiced using strong expressions such as "targeted investigation" and "prosecutorial republic" against Yoon. Park, a company employee in his 30s, said, "I remember what the prosecution did during former President Roh Moo-hyun’s death," and criticized, "The investigation of Cho Kuk was the same." He added, "Isn’t he saying that if the regime changes, they will investigate the Moon Jae-in government just like the Cho Kuk investigation?"

Regarding President Moon’s so-called "strong anger" remarks, there is also an opinion that the timing of their release could have the effect of rallying supporters. Yoon Yeo-jun, a prominent elder strategist in the conservative camp and former Minister of Environment, said in a KBS radio interview on the 11th, "Yoon said he was just making a general statement. But why make a general statement at that timing?"

He added, "I heard that many Democratic Party members were not very enthusiastic about Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, but as the election period approaches, this naturally helps to promote unity."

However, regarding President Moon’s direct demand for an apology from Yoon, he evaluated, "People can get angry. Especially since Yoon was the Prosecutor General appointed by Moon, it’s understandable that he would be angry hearing such remarks," but added, "Still, it is not appropriate to get serious and take the front stage."

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