Jo Eung-cheon "An's Campaign Vehicle Accident, Possible Variable in Completing the Presidential Race"

Proposal for An's Unification, "No More Concessions or Withdrawals"
Yoon's Judicial Pledge "Excessive"

Cho Eung-cheon, Co-Director of the Joint Situation Room of the Democratic Party Election Countermeasures Committee
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Jeong-wan] Cho Eung-cheon, co-head of the joint situation room of the Democratic Party of Korea's election countermeasures committee, commented on the fatal accident that occurred on the People's Party campaign bus, saying, "I think it could become a variable (in the presidential race)," and stated that an alliance between Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung and People's Party candidate Ahn Cheol-soo "seems physically impossible."

On the 16th, Cho appeared on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strongest Current Affairs' and said, "Ahn's proposal for unification sent two clear messages. First, there will be no unification with the Democratic Party. Second, this is his red line, and there will be no further concessions or withdrawal," adding, "It was the People Power Party that rejected candidate unification, and he made it clear that all problems arising from that are your (People Power Party's) responsibility." Last weekend, Ahn proposed a unified opposition primary against People Power Party candidate Yoon Seok-youl.

Cho said, "However, there is one variable. On the previous day (the 15th), a truly unfortunate accident occurred on the People's Party campaign bus, and Ahn has suspended his campaign and election activities to go to Cheonan and focus on managing the aftermath," adding, "In a race, like in short track speed skating, once you slip, it's hard to participate again. I think this could become a variable affecting the situation."

Cho, who has a background in prosecution, criticized Yoon's judicial pledge to expand the prosecution's authority to investigate high-ranking officials and abolish the Ministry of Justice minister's investigative supervision rights, saying, "I think it's quite excessive," and added, "There has never been a case in the past where investigative supervision rights were abolished or budget allocation rights were granted."

He continued, "When Yoon was the Prosecutor General, the number of investigative departments increased significantly, and the rarely used charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of exercise of rights, as well as the crime of loss to the national treasury, were used recklessly," pointing out, "All charges of loss to the national treasury or abuse of authority were acquitted. But I have never heard of any prosecutor or supervisory prosecutor taking responsibility."

He then said, "Investigative agencies should not have the right to prosecute. Why do you keep trying to expand the prosecution's authority?" and added, "The judicial system should be structured so that institutions can check and balance each other."

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