Yoon Seok-yeol Announces Presidential Candidacy on 29th at Yoon Bong-gil Memorial Hall

At the Maeheon Yun Bong-gil Memorial Hall in Yangjae-dong, Seoul

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol will announce his presidential candidacy on the 29th at the ‘Yun Bong-gil Memorial Hall’.

On the 24th, Choi Ji-hyun, deputy spokesperson for Yoon’s campaign, conveyed Yoon’s message: "I, Yoon Seok-yeol, will speak to the people at 1 p.m. on the 29th at the Maehun Yun Bong-gil Memorial Hall in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, about the path I will take moving forward." This announcement comes just over four months after Yoon resigned as Prosecutor General on March 4.

The announcement was initially expected around the 27th, but it appears the timing was delayed somewhat due to the recent political controversy surrounding the so-called ‘Yoon Seok-yeol X-file.’ During this period, Yoon’s campaign officials obtained various circulating files and judged them to be at a level that could be explained. From Yoon’s perspective, the last variable affecting the decision to announce his presidential bid has now disappeared.

The choice of the memorial hall honoring an independence activist as the venue for the announcement also draws attention. Yun Bong-gil was the 32nd generation descendant of the Papyeong Yun clan, and Yoon is the 35th generation descendant. Having expressed his determination to bring about a regime change, Yoon appears to be indirectly emphasizing that, having faced persecution from the current government, he has been following a path akin to that of an ‘independence activist.’

However, regarding issues such as joining the People Power Party, he is expected to maintain the stance of "acting cautiously like a mountain, without rash behavior." In other words, after the announcement, he is anticipated to embark on a scheduled 1-2 week tour focused on public welfare, listen to citizens’ voices, and then decide whether to join the party.