Even as the Blue House Criticized Yoon Seok-yeol and Choi Jae-hyung's Presidential Bids... Successive Moves Toward the Election

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] As Yoon Seok-yeol, a leading opposition presidential candidate and former Prosecutor General, is expected to announce his presidential bid soon, Lee Cheol-hee, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Blue House, expressed concerns, saying it would have a "negative effect on the organization." He pointed out potential issues regarding the neutrality of fixed-term public officials such as the Prosecutor General and the Chairperson of the Board of Audit and Inspection. Nevertheless, despite these criticisms, there are forecasts that Choi Jae-hyung, the Chairperson of the Board of Audit and Inspection, will also run for president.

Earlier, on the 25th, Lee appeared on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" and responded to the host's question about the impact on the prosecution and audit organizations if the Prosecutor General or the Chairperson of the Board of Audit and Inspection resigns mid-term to run for president, saying, "It will not be a positive effect." Former Prosecutor General Yoon is expected to announce his presidential bid on the 29th, and Chairperson Choi, whose term ends in January next year, is also expected to resign and declare his candidacy.

Lee said, "The reason for having fixed terms for the two positions you mentioned is because of neutrality and independence," adding, "Regardless of the reasons, if the term is not completed due to political actions, such as running for office, it will have a negative effect on the organization, regardless of accountability." Earlier, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum also criticized their actions during a National Assembly interpellation on the 22nd, saying, "Considering the high level of morality and neutrality that these two positions should have, this is not a normal situation."

However, despite criticism from the Blue House, fixed-term public officials continue to pursue presidential bids. According to political circles, Chairperson Choi is expected to submit his resignation as early as next week and begin his presidential campaign in earnest. The actual resignation is expected around the 28th to 30th, close to the 29th, when former Prosecutor General Yoon plans to announce his presidential candidacy. It is known that he will not declare his presidential bid immediately upon resignation.

Former Prosecutor General Yoon is expected to announce his presidential candidacy on the 29th at the "Maeheon Yun Bong-gil Memorial Hall" in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu. On the 24th, through Choi Ji-hyun, deputy spokesperson of his campaign, Yoon stated, "I will speak to the people about the path I will take from now on."