"One Controversial Statement a Day and Endless Suspicions" Hong's Attack Met with Yoon's Response: "Nothing Has Emerged in Two Years"

Hong "If you don't do manual labor, do you work like a cicada nymph?" targeted

People Power Party presidential candidate Hong Joon-pyo (left) and former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol and People Power Party lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo clashed over the so-called 'accusation manipulation' allegations.

At the first presidential primary debate of the People Power Party held on the 16th, during his lead debate, Rep. Hong raised his voice, saying, "You said the identity was unknown, but did you spread it to all the Yeouido reporters next to the prosecutor (former Prosecutor General Yoon) so that the person involved received over 100 calls a day?" In response, former Prosecutor General Yoon said, "We did not spread it; it was already circulating, so the unknown person was listed in the accusation document."

Recently, regarding the 'accusation manipulation' allegations, former Prosecutor General Yoon's campaign filed a complaint against National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won and others, including one unknown person. Controversy arose when it was revealed that the unknown person was a staff member of Rep. Hong's campaign. This was the basis of Rep. Hong's grievance.

Rep. Hong also targeted former Prosecutor General Yoon, saying, "The suspicions never end," and listed, "X-file, mother-in-law controversy, Deutsche Motors stock manipulation, former tax office chief Yoon Woo-jin bribery case, and 24 other cases have been reported."

In response, former Prosecutor General Yoon said, "Since I was the Prosecutor General, the Liberty Korea Party has thoroughly vetted me, and after passing the verification, I came to this position," adding, "They think that if they break me alone, they can extend their rule, so I was attacked while abiding by the law. What suspicion is there? After nearly two years of investigation, nothing has come out."

Rep. Hong further said, "The media calls it a daily blunder. You said, 'Workers who use their hands and feet only exist in Africa,' so the younger generation asks, 'Then am I a Korean African?'" He added, "Is there anyone who works without using their hands and feet, like a woodlouse using only their torso? Explain yourself." Former Prosecutor General Yoon began to respond, "Due to the international division of labor in industry, so-called simple labor..." but the limited time ended, and he could not finish his answer.