[Politics, That Day...] 'Yoon Seok-yeol's Flower Path' Thrilling Memories, Experienced First by Prosecutor Senior

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min]

Members of the civic group "Jayuyondae," who oppose the Moon Jae-in administration and support Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, are voluntarily removing wreaths in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office building in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

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What was Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol doing in March 2022? The political gaze of Yeouido is focused on ‘Seocho-dong.’ Although he never belonged to any specific party and never said he would enter politics himself, news came that he had surpassed major politicians to rank first in the next presidential candidate approval ratings.

This is a scene any politician would envy. Anyone who has experienced ‘being number one in approval ratings’ can indulge in thrilling fantasies?the thought that once you decide to run for president, you can run down the flower path laid out before you and arrive at the Blue House.

There is a senior prosecutor who experienced that thrilling fantasy before Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol. His name was always accompanied by the phrase ‘the unshakable number one presidential candidate.’ He is senior prosecutor Hwang Kyo-ahn, who led in approval ratings not only among opposition parties but also combined ruling and opposition presidential candidates.

Senior prosecutor Hwang Kyo-ahn graduated from the 13th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute and was appointed as a prosecutor in 1982, embarking on a legal career. He shares many overlaps with Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol. In terms of training class and appointment timing, senior prosecutor Hwang Kyo-ahn is much more senior. Yoon Seok-yeol graduated from the 24th class of the institute and was appointed prosecutor in 1994.

Senior prosecutor Hwang Kyo-ahn was a focus of attention in Yeouido politics even before entering politics. His experience as Prime Minister and Acting President also increased his value. Many predicted that once he entered politics, the existing presidential race would be shaken. And indeed, it was so.

He declared his political participation by joining the Liberty Korea Party on January 15 last year, and just a month later, on February 27, he was elected party leader at the party convention, becoming the head of the main opposition party. Senior prosecutor Hwang Kyo-ahn’s early moves were a flower path.

Hwang Kyo-ahn, Minister of Justice

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According to a preference survey for the next presidential candidate conducted by Realmeter commissioned by OhmyNews from March 25 to 29 last year, targeting 2,516 adults aged 19 and over nationwide, senior prosecutor Hwang Kyo-ahn ranked first with 21.2%. This was a 3.3 percentage point increase from 17.9% in the OhmyNews survey in February last year.

In the March OhmyNews survey, the second place in presidential candidate preference was Lee Nak-yeon, then Prime Minister, with 14.9%. Third place was Yoo Si-min, chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, with 12.0%, and fourth place was Lee Jae-myung, governor of Gyeonggi Province, with 7.1%. For detailed information on the OhmyNews poll, please refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.

In the spring of last year, senior prosecutor Hwang Kyo-ahn’s momentum was tremendous. The fact that he had just become the leader of the main opposition party and that there were no significant competitors in the opposition made his solo run possible. March 2019 was three years before the next presidential election. Many expected that after three years, Hwang Kyo-ahn’s name would be on the main opposition party’s presidential candidate list.

However, the situation changed. The rise of junior prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol shook senior prosecutor Hwang Kyo-ahn’s political standing. In November 2020, when the political gaze of Yeouido was focused on Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, senior prosecutor Hwang Kyo-ahn, once known as the unshakable number one presidential candidate, was treated as a forgotten figure.

Senior prosecutor Hwang Kyo-ahn’s approval ratings plummeted. He is now trailing not only Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol but also Hong Joon-pyo, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, and Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party. After his defeat in the Jongno parliamentary election in the 21st general election last April and entering a political breather, the political environment changed drastically.

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is heading to the cafeteria for lunch with attendees of the nationwide district prosecutors' chiefs and election chief prosecutors meeting held at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 10th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

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An interesting point is the soaring value of former prosecutors. Among opposition presidential candidates, only Hwang Kyo-ahn and Yoon Seok-yeol have experienced ranking first in approval ratings, surpassing ruling party candidates. In the case of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, some question the number one ranking as it is based on certain polls. While this is a valid point, it is undeniable that Yoon Seok-yeol shows the highest approval ratings among opposition presidential candidates.

The scene where figures who spent most of their public service careers as prosecutors surpass veteran opposition politicians and consecutively surge to the forefront of the next presidential race is unprecedented in recent presidential election history. This is a point for existing politicians in Yeouido to ponder. It may be a result of public disgust toward existing politicians or evidence that the current political system is vulnerable.

A national leader is a figure who leads the people based on a vision and philosophy covering all aspects of state affairs, including politics, economy, society, diplomacy, and defense. Not every politician grows into a national leader. Only those who succeed in strengthening their ‘political muscles’ through the process of political training can be treated as leaders.

Senior prosecutor Hwang Kyo-ahn is currently in a difficult situation, but that too is part of the training process to build political muscles. If he can create stronger and more powerful political muscles through this process, he may once again be called upon by the people.

The future of junior prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol is difficult to predict at present. First, it must be considered whether he intends to build political muscles, but if he does, he must undergo the training process. There is a possibility he will show talent as a politician and succeed in a smooth landing. Conversely, the future that once seemed like a flower path may turn into a path of hardship. It will be interesting to see how he is evaluated as a private citizen, having shed the mantle of Prosecutor General.

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