Joo Jinwoo: "I Am Running for Party Leader with Confidence... The Ruling Party Fears My Victory"

Declaration of Candidacy for Party Leader on the 24th... Intensifying People Power Party Leadership Race
Democratic Party: "Special Prosecutor's Investigation Must Come First"

Joo Jinwoo, a member of the People Power Party who has announced his intention to run for party leader, strongly criticized the recent allegations that he received a phone call from former President Yoon Sukyeol on the day rumors of a "VIP outrage" surfaced, stating, "I will take additional legal action against false reports."

On the 24th, Joo wrote on social media, "The Democratic Party is making a fuss, claiming I am a target for a special investigation," and explained that the reason for his candidacy is "because the Democratic Party is most afraid of me becoming party leader." He added, "The Democratic Party keeps calling my candidacy for party leader an attempt to seek immunity, but unlike Lee Jaemyung, the current Democratic Party leader (and current president), I am running with confidence."

Joo Jinwoo, member of the People Power Party. Joo Jinwoo Facebook

Previously, Joo faced suspicions of being involved in the alleged "external pressure on the investigation into the death of Private Chae" after it was revealed that he had a 44-second phone call from the number '02-800-7070' on July 31, 2023, during his tenure as legal secretary in the Yoon Sukyeol administration. After Joo announced his candidacy for party leader of the People Power Party on social media the previous day, the Democratic Party, through a statement by spokesperson Hwang Jeonga, criticized it as "an attempt to evade the special prosecutor's investigation."

In response to the opposition's criticism, Joo argued, "Most of the calls from the 800-7070 number are from staff in the presidential secretariat coordinating schedules," adding, "It's a very common occurrence." He pointed out that some media reports were "malicious," saying, "They falsely reported based on the very large error that any call from that number must be directly connected to the president." He further emphasized, "Hundreds of people involved in the case, as well as staff from the presidential secretariat, would have all testified that they have no connection to me," and added, "From the start, the National Security Office was not part of my job responsibilities." Finally, Joo called on the special prosecutor investigating the Chae case to "brief the media accurately," adding, "Even though you have already determined that I am not involved, claiming that further confirmation is needed is also a false briefing." Joo is scheduled to officially announce his candidacy for People Power Party leader at the National Assembly's press center later this morning.

Joo Jinwoo, Member of the People Power Party. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Meanwhile, ahead of the People Power Party convention on August 22, not only Joo Jinwoo but also Jang Donghyuk have announced their intentions to run for party leader. However, there are concerns in some quarters that the intensifying competition for party leadership could undermine the momentum for reform, as more voices are calling for the newly formed leadership to be the driving force for innovation. The previous day, the People Power Party held two general meetings of lawmakers to discuss the reform proposals of the 'Yoon Heesook Innovation Committee,' but failed to reach a conclusion. For this convention's preliminary primary, the People Power Party has decided to reflect both public opinion polls and responsible party member votes at 50% each (previously 100% party member votes).

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