After reading the declaration for 15 minutes
About 40 minutes of Q&A with reporters
"Healthy competition based on the rule of law is fairness"
Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is entering the Maehun Yun Bong-gil Memorial Hall in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where a press conference for his presidential election candidacy is being held on the morning of the 29th. 2021.6.29 Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy reporters Hyunju Lee and Juni Park] Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol has officially declared his entry into politics with the anticipated message of ‘fairness.’ He adds ‘restoration of sovereignty’ to this. His ‘legalistic’ criticism that the current government has implemented unfair policies and infringed upon the sovereignty of the people leads to the ‘necessity of regime change.’
In the ‘message to the nation’ declaration announced by former Prosecutor General Yoon on the 29th, he defines fairness as ‘healthy competition based on the rule of law.’ However, he also includes a message of ‘warm fairness,’ suggesting that while competing fairly, society should also care for those left behind through social consensus. This concretizes his pledge made upon his resignation as Prosecutor General on March 4th, to ‘protect the people regardless of position,’ into a determination to ‘restore the sovereignty of the people.’ Former Prosecutor General Yoon also stated that all citizens and forces must unite for regime change, which is interpreted as his intention to serve as a unifying figure encompassing the free right-wing, centrists, and anti-Moon (anti-Moon Jae-in) progressive forces.
On this day, former Prosecutor General Yoon read the declaration for 15 minutes and then held a Q&A session with reporters for about 40 minutes. Conscious of criticism that he had been conducting ‘politics through close aides’ during his period of low profile, the Q&A was held spontaneously without prior coordination.
Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is scheduled to hold a press conference at 1 p.m. on the 29th at the Maehun Yun Bong-gil Memorial Hall in Seocho-gu, Seoul, to announce his presidential candidacy. In the morning, banners and congratulatory wreaths from supporters of former Prosecutor General Yoon were installed in front of the Yun Bong-gil Memorial Hall. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@
The choice of the declaration venue?the Yun Bong-gil Memorial Hall, dedicated to the independence activist Yun Bong-gil?also draws attention. While emphasizing patriotism and constitutional spirit, it also appears intended to appeal to the Chungcheong region. Yun Bong-gil is a representative independence activist from the Chungcheong area. Around the venue early in the morning, dozens of supporters gathered, hanging banners reading ‘Unite tightly behind Yoon Seok-yeol and go to the presidency’ and ‘All verified, Yoon Seok-yeol for president.’ Kim Sang-jin, who founded Yoon’s fan club ‘Yeoljidae,’ urged, “Please allow the people to live satisfied with the basic aspects of human life without political or economic worries,” and “Please create a country where people can live comfortably without worrying about the nation.”
Former Prosecutor General Yoon also opened his own Facebook account on this day for the first time. He posted, “I started SNS for the first time to get closer to you and hear your voices more often,” adding, “Any story is welcome anytime. I will wholeheartedly communicate with you.” He also uploaded a profile picture wearing a purple striped short-sleeve shirt with his pet dog, trying to project a ‘friendly image.’
With former Prosecutor General Yoon’s political activities beginning, movements to facilitate his entry into the People Power Party have also become active. At the political participation declaration ceremony, not only Yoon Ju-kyung, a People Power Party lawmaker and great-granddaughter of independence activist Yun Bong-gil, but also several People Power Party lawmakers including Kwon Seong-dong, Baek Jong-heon, Jeong Jeom-sik, and Jeong Jin-seok participated. In a phone interview with this publication, Lawmaker Yoon said, “Declaring candidacy is an important decision for him, and I am grateful that he chose a place that remembers the spirit of independence activists for such a declaration.” Lawmaker Jeong Jin-seok said, “Wouldn’t it be possible to arrange a simple meeting on site (to talk with former Prosecutor General Yoon)?”
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