Yoo Si-min: "Yoon Seok-yeol's Mother-in-law's Allegations Swept Under the Rug... Even the President's Mother-in-law Wouldn't Get Such Treatment"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy, reporter Yoon Shinwon] Yoo Si-min, chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, claimed that Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol could become a target of investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) if he was aware of his mother-in-law's alleged forgery of a bank balance certificate.

On his YouTube channel 'Alileo' on March 31, Yoo stated, "If (Prosecutor General Yoon) at least knew about it, or if he condoned, aided, or provided legal advice despite knowing, it would be problematic. However, if Prosecutor General Yoon was involved, there is no way to find out while he is in office, because he would have to investigate himself."

Yoo also compared the allegations against Prosecutor General Yoon's mother-in-law to those against Chung Kyung-shim, wife of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, saying, "Isn't forging a bank balance certificate worth 35 billion won a bigger crime than a university award certificate stamped with the prosecutor general's seal?"

He went on to comment on the investigation into Prosecutor General Yoon's mother-in-law, saying, "At this level, it just gets swept under the rug. Not even the president's mother-in-law would receive such treatment. Not even the president's wife would receive such treatment."

Yoo also revealed for the first time what Choi Sung-hae, then president of Dongyang University, told him during a phone call at the height of the Cho Kuk controversy last September: "(President Choi said) 'The prosecution brought a copy of the award certificate, and at a glance, the seal seemed correct and the paper matched our forms. However, there was no record in the main register.'"

Regarding the allegation he raised about the prosecution's illegal surveillance of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation's bank accounts, Yoo said, "I have received unofficial responses from all institutions except the prosecution that they did not view the accounts," adding that he continues to suspect the prosecution.

Yoo also commented on the recent rise in support for the People's Party following volunteer activities by its leader Ahn Cheol-soo, saying, "The temporary increase in support has been declining since Ahn excessively criticized the government's COVID-19 response. If Ahn had self-isolated longer or engaged in more volunteer work, it would have been better for the party."

Regarding the United Future Party's recruitment of Kim Chong-in, former emergency committee chairman of the Democratic Party, as chief campaign manager, Yoo said, "Back then, I didn't understand why the Democratic Party recruited him, and even now, I don't understand why the United Future Party did. It is meaningless," he dismissed.