Kang Jun-man: "Making President Candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, 90% Role of Current Government and Chu Mi-ae"

Silent on Prosecutorial Investigation Methods in Early Moon Jae-in Government
Yoon Seok-youl Demonization Emerges Amid Cho Kuk Scandal
Officials from Intelligence Agencies Negative About Presidential Run

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Professor Kang Jun-man, emeritus professor at Jeonbuk National University, pointed out on the 18th that a fatal mistake of the Moon Jae-in administration was the "demonization of Yoon Seok-yeol." He also evaluated that the current government effectively created "presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol."

Professor Kang appeared on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" on the same day and criticized how partisan logic operates in relation to former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol.

He said, "Based on a dichotomy of good and evil, 'I am on this side, you are on that side,' and defining the solution as a 10:0 good and evil, but in our daily lives, there is no case of 10:0," pointing out the changed attitude toward former Prosecutor General Yoon after the investigation of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk.

Professor Kang said, "During the two years when Cho Kuk was the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Blue House, four people committed suicide due to harsh investigations by the prosecution, but no one ever said 'the investigation is too harsh,' 'this should not continue like this,' 'there is a problem with the special investigation unit,' or 'prosecutorial reform is needed.' Instead, they gave enthusiastic applause," and added, "After Cho Kuk was appointed Minister of Justice, and after what is commonly called the 8.27 coup, attitudes turned 180 degrees."

He said, "Even at that time, if the president had started from the position of 'How can we investigate Cho Kuk, whom the president is trying to appoint, so harshly? We also bear responsibility, and we have overly inflated his (Yoon's) desire for fame,' the problem would not have become like this, and the Moon Jae-in administration would not have suffered a fatal blow," adding, "In my view, it was like spitting while lying down." He also said, "How can the term 'coup against the Moon Jae-in administration' make sense? For two years, support was given, and even after the investigation of Cho Kuk began, there were people within the ruling party who supported former Prosecutor General Yoon."

Professor Kang also criticized President Moon's leadership. He said, "Former Prosecutor General Yoon went to the National Assembly and said the president supports him," and added, "If it was judged to be a coup, President Moon should have made him step down. He should have called him and said, 'Thank you, but it seems your philosophy does not align with ours,' and gently let him step down with honor. Would he not have stepped down then?" He criticized, "That opportunity was missed and it was neglected." He continued, "Instead of using such a method, they tried to drive him out by abnormal and unreasonable means," and pointed out, "As a result, former Prosecutor General Yoon rose to the ranks of a presidential candidate." Professor Kang said, "To completely ignore this one-year process and say that (Yoon) anticipated and acted like that from the beginning is nonsense."

When asked by the host about his view on the claim that presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol was created by the current administration and former Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae, Professor Kang answered, "90% was created."

Regarding former Prosecutor General Yoon's presidential run, Professor Kang also expressed a negative opinion. He said, "Is it desirable for people who were in national institutions with the nature of investigative agencies, including Chief Auditor Choi Jae-hyung, to run directly for the presidency?" and added, "I have a critical view."

Meanwhile, Professor Kang also gave advice to President Moon Jae-in, who has nine months left in his term. He said, "Did you not feel any change after Lee Cheol-hee became the Senior Secretary for Political Affairs?" and added, "Would someone like this Senior Secretary for Political Affairs try to make the Moon Jae-in administration fail? I hope that a few more people like him, though not many remain, will be appointed to important positions."