President-elect Yoon: "Regarding Complete Prosecution Reform, Political Circles Should Deliberate and Unite"

by Bae Kyunghwan

Published 25 Apr.2022 09:25(KST)

Updated 25 Apr.2022 10:36(KST)

The President-elect's camp: "Not a partisan stance, but a request to gather wisdom"... Concerns also expressed the previous day

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol expressed on the 25th his position asking the ruling and opposition parties to "unite their will" regarding the agreement on the complete removal of prosecutorial investigation rights (검수완박, Geomsu Wanbak). However, the president-elect's side cautioned against overinterpreting this as a partisan stance, emphasizing it as a request for the collective wisdom of all political parties.

On the same day, Baek Hyun-jin, spokesperson for the president-elect, responded to a question about the opposition from Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People’s Party, on the mediation agreement for Geomsu Wanbak during a briefing at the transition office in Tongui-dong, Seoul. It was confirmed that President-elect Yoon urged, "The entire political circle should deeply consider what the right answer is to uphold constitutional values and protect the lives of the people, and unite their will."

Spokesperson Baek added, "From the president-elect’s standpoint, we are currently observing the National Assembly’s discussions, and we believe the Democratic Party is also well aware of the deep concerns and many opinions the majority of the public holds regarding Geomsu Wanbak." She continued, "As everyone knows, there is no politics that can overcome the people," and said, "We expect that the ruling party will not push forward with legislative dominance amid the public’s concerns."

Regarding some reports that President-elect Yoon expressed a negative stance on the bipartisan agreement, she stated, "It is impossible to verify when and through whom such statements were conveyed." On whether there was prior consultation between People Power Party floor leader Kwon Seong-dong, who accepted the mediation plan, and President-elect Yoon, spokesperson Baek briefly said, "We are not in a position to confirm every detailed conversation between the two."

Earlier, President-elect Yoon had also conveyed through close aides that "he is watching the situation along with the concerns of the people." On the previous day, spokesperson Baek said, "With the presidential inauguration approaching, he will fulfill his responsibilities and efforts as president to uphold constitutional values after taking office."