'Not Meddling But...' Yoon Elected President's Growing Control Over Party-Cheong Relations

President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol smiles at reporters' questions on the afternoon of the 26th as he heads to the Presidential Transition Committee office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

원본보기 아이콘

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] There is an analysis that President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, who had advocated for the separation of party and government, is strengthening his grip within the party amid the controversy over the complete removal of prosecutorial investigation rights (Geomsu Wanbak). Yoon’s influence is spreading comprehensively, as seen in controversies over his intentions (Yoonshim) during the local election nomination process.

According to political circles on the 27th, the People Power Party has been closely attuned to President-elect Yoon’s intentions since changing direction to reconsider the Geomsu Wanbak bill. After the party meeting on the 22nd, where the bill was agreed upon and then heavily criticized by public opinion, Yoonshim became even more important. On the same day, party spokesperson Bae Hyun-jin expressed a negative stance on the bill’s passage, stating in a briefing regarding “President-elect Yoon’s position on the Democratic Party’s announcement to pass the Geomsu Wanbak bill,” that “politicians in Yeouido should not rush but discuss deeply to derive answers that the public wants.” Earlier, Chief Secretary Jang Je-won also said, “My view that Geomsu Wanbak means complete corruption removal has not changed since the Prosecutor General resigned.”

The influence of People Power Party floor leader Kwon Seong-dong, who emphasized the party’s role in party-government relations, appears to be relatively diminishing. On the 22nd, Kwon did not hide his leading role in drafting the Geomsu Wanbak agreement, saying, “I called out most of the (agreement’s) contents myself,” but at the emergency party meeting on the 26th, he apologized to lawmakers using expressions such as “judgment error” and “political collusion.”

President-elect Yoon’s influence is evident in various places. A clear example was the remarks by lawmaker Lee Yong during the party meeting on the Geomsu Wanbak response the day before. As the first speaker, Lee expressed support for floor leader Kwon. Lee is a close aide who served as chief of staff during the last presidential election and closely assisted Yoon. Considering Lee’s rare participation in party meetings, political circles interpret this as conveying Yoon’s intentions to the floor.

Additionally, in the floor leader election process, lawmaker Kim Tae-heum, who was a strong candidate, changed direction to run for governor of Chungnam after Yoon’s recommendation and was selected as a candidate. Candidates who emphasized Yoonshim also won in the primaries for governor of Gyeonggi-do and Chungbuk, confirming Yoon’s influence.

However, Yoon’s camp is cautious about interpreting these developments as a vertical party-government relationship. When asked by reporters about the passage of the Geomsu Wanbak bill in the plenary session, Yoon himself distanced himself by saying, “That is something the party will handle.” A key aide to Yoon said, “President-elect Yoon does not get involved in what happens within the party,” adding, “He is not the type to micromanage agreements between the ruling and opposition parties.”

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.