Shin Dong-geun: "Yoon Seok-yeol, Thank You if You Enter Politics... Will Become Like 'Hwangnattaeng'"

"People Accustomed to Hierarchical Culture Find Political Adaptation Difficult"

Shin Dong-geun, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Shin Dong-geun, a Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said about Yoon Seok-yeol, the Prosecutor General who is rumored to enter politics after his retirement, "(If he) enters (politics), thank you."

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 26th, Shin said, "There was once a saying 'Hwang-na-tteng' (meaning 'Thank you if Hwang Kyo-ahn comes out'). I don't think that is likely, but if such a situation arises, I would say 'Yoon-na-tteng'."

He continued, "Within the conservative forces, there was a grand expectation for Hwang, the former leader of the People Power Party, who served as the last Prime Minister and Acting President during the Park Geun-hye administration," adding, "He had high recognition and an upright, neat image that appealed to people. However, the stigma of being responsible for the Park Geun-hye government's state affairs manipulation overshadowed all of Hwang Kyo-ahn's strengths."

He further explained, "After Prosecutor General Yoon completes his term, whether he engages in social service or politics is Yoon's freedom. Those who stood against the plan and tried to block it symbolize the past, not the future," and added, "Those accustomed to a culture of strict hierarchical obedience find it difficult to adapt well to the political space and establish leadership unless under a military regime."

Yoon Seok-yeol, Prosecutor General / Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, during the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office held until dawn on the 23rd, when asked about his plans after retirement, Prosecutor General Yoon responded that he would "think about ways to serve society and the people," raising suspicions in political circles about his intention to enter politics.

At that time, Kim Do-eup, a member of the People Power Party, asked, "Does politics fall under the ways of service?" Yoon hesitated for a moment and replied, "It is difficult to say right now." Although he avoided a direct answer about entering politics, he did not completely deny it.

On the same day, in a radio interview, Supreme Council Member Shin said about Prosecutor General Yoon, "He is thinking about doing politics. It seems like a statement made with the goal of becoming a politician," but also said, "As we saw with former leader Hwang Kyo-ahn, the public does not like those from power institutions. (It is the same in Yoon's case.)"