Yoon Seok-yeol and Choi Jae-hyung Rivalry Heats Up... Opposition Also Engages in 'Negative Campaign'

Won Hee-ryong "Beyond lack of preparation, it's a dangerous level"
Hong Joon-pyo "At least cram study"

(From left) Won Hee-ryong, former Governor of Jeju Province; Hong Joon-pyo and Ha Tae-kyung, members of the People Power Party
Photo by Dong-joo Yoon, Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Amid the ruling party's negative tactics overshadowing the presidential primary race, the same phenomenon is emerging in the opposition camp, which started preparing for the primary a bit late. In particular, within the opposition, the level of checks and balances against the two 'recruited candidates,' Yoon Seok-yeol and Choi Jae-hyung, is intensifying, leading to an overheated situation.

On the 6th, former Jeju Governor and People Power Party presidential candidate Won Hee-ryong criticized former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who sparked controversy with remarks about '120-hour workweeks' and 'Fukushima radiation,' on TBS Radio's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory,' saying, "Having this level of understanding about issues like labor, food, and radiation goes beyond a lack of preparation as a leader; it is at a dangerous level." Referring also to former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung's press conference the previous day, he added, "I cannot understand how someone who cannot present even common-sense opinions convincingly to the public talks about leading the country."

Along with former Governor Won, party candidates including People Power Party lawmakers Hong Joon-pyo and Ha Tae-kyung continue their daily offensives against former Prosecutor General Yoon and former Chairman Choi. The content and attitudes of these two, who have just stepped into politics, are the main targets of attacks. On the previous day, Lawmaker Hong attacked both simultaneously on Facebook, saying, "If you are not prepared, at least cram and prepare before running again." On the same day, Lawmaker Ha also said on Facebook, addressing former Chairman Choi, "A president may not know everything, but at least should know the basics."

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol and Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung
[Image source=Yonhap News]

For now, the camps of former Prosecutor General Yoon and former Chairman Choi are refraining from emotional responses to these competitors' attacks. This appears to be based on the judgment that getting involved in controversies could do more harm than good. Yoon's campaign spokesperson Yoon Hee-seok said in a phone interview that day, "It is true that there are areas in remarks and attitudes that need improvement," but added, "Since the primary hasn't even started yet, we have no intention of reacting to every comment or causing discord."

Former Chairman Choi also responded on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs' when the host mentioned former Prosecutor General Yoon's gaffes, saying, "I think such issues will decrease as I adapt to politics." This continued the stance he expressed the previous day after paying respects at the National 3.15 Democratic Cemetery in Changwon, Gyeongnam, when he told reporters, "Please watch as I try to fill in my shortcomings." Regarding concerns that the entry of external figures into the party might cause internal strife, Choi said, "It is natural for people who share the same intentions to gather (as factions)," adding, "It will not turn into a confrontational situation."