Choi Jae-hyung Proposes Public Meeting with Yoon Seok-yeol... Yoon Avoids Direct Answer, Says "We Will Meet When the Time Comes"

Choi "Let's have an open and honest dialogue to reassure the public"

Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, affiliated with the People Power Party, is registering as a preliminary presidential candidate on the morning of the 26th at the Central Election Commission in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung proposed a public meeting to former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl on the 28th. This was intended to calm the brewing internal strife among party lawmakers who are divided into factions supporting candidates such as the ‘Yoon Seok-youl faction’ and the ‘Choi Jae-hyung faction’ and to unite their intentions. However, Yoon’s side showed a reserved attitude, stating they would not issue any particular statement.

In the public proposal released that day, former Chairman Choi suggested the meeting, saying, "The sooner, the better. I will wait for a positive response from former Prosecutor General Yoon."

Regarding the current situation within the party, former Chairman Choi assessed, "It is disorderly in many ways. The media is reporting it under the frame of factional politics," adding, "This is by no means a desirable situation for regime change." He further stated, "There is a need to meet with former Prosecutor General Yoon to have an open and honest conversation about the current political situation and to make efforts to reassure party members and the public."

He also referred to former Prosecutor General Yoon not as a competitor but as a "comrade who must work together on the path to regime change" and a "political partner," emphasizing the necessity of cooperation.

In response, Yoon’s side told this outlet in a phone call, "This is not a matter to issue an official statement about," and avoided giving a direct answer by saying, "I think we will meet when the time comes." Since Yoon has not yet clearly decided whether to join the People Power Party, it seems they are buying time to judge whether discussing cooperation plans with internal presidential candidates would appear appropriate.