Choo Mi-ae: "Reform momentum is broken... I cannot remain silent"
"I am ready to take responsibility if my dedication is needed"
"Prosecutor General's direct run for presidency is unprecedented in constitutional history" Repeated criticism of Yoon
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Former Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae hinted at the possibility of running for the next presidential election, stating that she is "prepared to take on the responsibility." Previously, former Minister Chu warned Yoon Seok-yeol, a leading opposition presidential candidate and former Prosecutor General, saying she "will not tolerate the regression of history."
On the 10th, during an appearance on YTN's 'Evening News,' when asked about her candidacy for the presidential election, former Minister Chu responded, "We need to reignite the Candlelight Revolution," adding, "In this situation where all the forces resisting reform are demoralized, I feel I cannot remain idle."
She continued, "We need to regroup to unite our hearts, and if my dedication is needed there, I am prepared to take on that responsibility."
Former Minister Chu also took aim at former Prosecutor General Yoon. When asked if she believed Yoon had been preparing for politics since his time as Prosecutor General, she replied, "It seemed so. He is now heading straight to the presidential election," adding, "A Prosecutor General directly running for the presidency is unprecedented in constitutional history, and the disciplinary recommendation letter warned precisely about this."
She further criticized, "(Yoon) violated political neutrality and proved it himself."
Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is listening to reporters' questions while moving to attend the opening ceremony of the Independence Activist Udang Lee Hoe-young Memorial Hall held on the afternoon of the 9th at Namsan Yejang Park in Jung-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News
This is not the first time former Minister Chu has criticized former Prosecutor General Yoon. Earlier in March, during an interview with KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs,' she criticized, "If Yoon runs for president, it would be like the birth of a political prosecutor, similar to a political soldier."
She added, "It is ironic that a Prosecutor General who wielded absolute power in a country established by candlelight citizens is now entering politics," warning, "Citizens will watch closely with vigilance."
When asked by the host about voices calling for former Minister Chu to be nominated as a presidential candidate to oppose former Prosecutor General Yoon, she drew a line, saying, "I am not interested in Yoon," but emphasized, "However, I believe we must not tolerate the regression of history."
Some cautiously speculate about former Minister Chu's potential presidential run. There are claims that she is the only 'countermeasure' to former Prosecutor General Yoon, who is competing for first and second place in various next presidential candidate opinion polls alongside Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung.
Yoon Tae-gon, head of the political analysis office at The Moa, recently appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and predicted, "The more Yoon rises, the more former Minister Chu can come out with the frame of 'Doesn't that person have problems?' and 'I am the one who can catch Yoon Seok-yeol.'"
He added, "(Former Minister Chu) now only has the next level to challenge. Even if she fails, the only challenge left is the presidential election," analyzing, "It is said that Yoon Seok-yeol rose because of Chu Mi-ae, but because of Yoon Seok-yeol, the hardline supporters of the ruling party may rally behind Chu Mi-ae. Former Minister Chu is riding on Yoon's wave."
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