Conflicting Messages, Messenger's Sudden Exit... Yoon Seok-yeol's 'Relay Politics' Facing Limits

Sudden Spokesperson Resignation Announcement
Confusion Continues Ahead of Full-Fledged Political Activities
Possible Differences Over Joining the People Power Party

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] A red light has turned on for former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's political moves. Amid growing criticism of the so-called ‘relay politics’ known as ‘according to close aides of former Prosecutor General Yoon~’, the spokesperson who played the role of messenger resigned just 10 days after appointment. Amid this series of developments, doubts are increasing about both the process and direction of former Prosecutor General Yoon’s political trajectory.

On the 20th, Lee Dong-hoon, former editorial writer of Chosun Ilbo who served as former Prosecutor General Yoon’s spokesperson, announced at 7:07 a.m., "I am stepping down for personal reasons." Regarding the background of Lee’s resignation, Yoon’s side officially cited ‘health reasons’ as the cause. Lee Sang-rok, who also served as Yoon’s spokesperson alongside Lee Dong-hoon, stated, "When Lee expressed on the afternoon of the 19th that he could no longer perform his duties as spokesperson due to health and other reasons, Yoon accepted this with regret."

However, general analyses differ from this. There are also analyses suggesting differing opinions. In fact, Lee mentioned, "On the 18th, former Prosecutor General Yoon met with the two spokespersons and encouraged them to humbly do well in front of the people." That day was also the day when a mishap related to Yoon’s entry into the People Power Party occurred.

On the problematic 18th, Lee Dong-hoon appeared on KBS Radio’s ‘Choi Kyung-young’s Strong Current Affairs’ and treated Yoon’s entry into the People Power Party as a foregone conclusion. When the host asked, "Since you are focusing a lot on the People Power Party, can I take it that joining the People Power Party is a given?" Lee replied, "Yes, I think you can."

But just over an hour later, Lee, citing Yoon’s remarks, said, "He will meet influential people and listen to various voices. He is not just going around eating fish cakes at markets. He will listen to diverse opinions," and "Whether to join the party is a matter to be decided afterward." This contradicted what he had said earlier on the radio.

The flood of voices claiming to be close aides of former Prosecutor General Yoon caused confusion. After stepping down as Prosecutor General, Yoon had been sending messages either through calls with some media or in the form of relay messages introduced as from Yoon’s side. Amid this confusion, controversy arose in political circles about what Yoon’s true intentions were. But a completely different situation unfolded. Now, even the spokesperson’s messages, which were supposed to be a single channel, were reversed within an hour, causing further confusion.

Following this series of mishaps, political circles have been flooded with criticisms pointing out the limitations of ‘relay politics’.

At least from the circumstances, one can glimpse the possibility of internal disagreements surrounding Yoon’s political moves. The fact that Yoon met with the public relations team after the spokesperson’s mishap regarding party entry suggests there was a process of reconciling differences or resolving conflicts. However, despite this reconciliation process, Lee Dong-hoon’s departure indicates that the differences in views were not bridged.

A noteworthy point here is the part related to joining the People Power Party. Some analyses suggest that Lee Dong-hoon pushed for Yoon’s entry into the People Power Party. Political commentator Yoo Chang-sun said on social media, "I noticed Lee strongly rebutting political commentator Jang Ye-chan’s taxi theory," adding, "It is probably not just my intuition that the spokesperson’s personal desire for Yoon to join the People Power Party is being conveyed." This was in reference to Lee’s comment that "Jang Ye-chan is just a supporter of Yoon Seok-yeol," after Jang proposed the taxi theory, which suggests going straight to the presidential election without joining the People Power Party, citing the bus theory, etc. After the series of mishaps on the 18th, Yoo pointed out, "It seems confusion arises as the spokesperson’s wishes keep being leaked."

In other words, Lee Dong-hoon’s series of actions are interpreted as pushing for Yoon’s entry into the People Power Party. Lee’s sudden resignation, conversely, means that Yoon has become more distant from joining the People Power Party. This is a changed situation from when Yoon had been in contact with People Power Party lawmakers one after another, increasing the possibility of joining. This series of changes also suggests that Yoon’s side may have regarded the launch of People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok as a ‘negative factor,’ contrary to public perception. It also shows that the taxi theory, i.e., going straight to the presidential election without going through the People Power Party primary, is not a closed card.

For now, Yoon is conveying his intentions by quoting Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s phrase ‘Mullyeongmangdong Jeongjungyeosan (勿令妄動 靜重如山),’ meaning ‘Do not act rashly, act calmly and as heavily as a mountain.’ This suggests that moves such as joining the People Power Party are still undecided. Before Yoon himself steps up to the microphone, or even after doing so, whether due to strategic ambiguity or deferred decisions, speculation and confusion surrounding Yoon’s political moves are likely to continue for some time.