"Are Both Spouses Guilty of Plagiarism?" Yoo Seung-min Criticizes Yoon's 'Military Service Bonus Points Pledge'... Yoon Seok-yeol's Camp Says "Effort to Realize It Is Important"

Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, raised plagiarism concerns regarding the 'Additional Points for Military Service Veterans in Housing Subscription' pledge announced by fellow party presidential candidate and former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol. Yoon's campaign responded by emphasizing that "the policy was refined and formalized into a pledge based on proposals made by young people," stressing the importance of efforts to realize the pledge.

Today (22nd), former Prosecutor General Yoon held a press conference at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, announcing a pledge to recognize military service as a form of career experience. The pledge includes raising wages for military service veterans and awarding 5 additional points in housing subscription applications.

However, on the same day, Choi Won-seon, spokesperson for Yoo Seung-min's campaign, released a statement titled "Is Candidate Yoon Seok-yeol a Pledge Copier?" Choi criticized, "Perhaps due to the urgent need for MZ generation support, (former Prosecutor General Yoon) promises to give 5 additional points for housing subscription to military service veterans," adding, "This is exactly the same pledge that former lawmaker Yoo announced in early July. Even the proposal for retroactive application is identical to Yoo's pledge."

Choi further stated, "The pledge to expand the period counted towards national pension during military service was already announced by former lawmaker Yoo as a national pension credit pledge," and added, "Security policy is a complex issue that cannot be resolved by hastily piecing together plausible pledges." He also questioned, "Is the shame of plagiarizing pledges painstakingly developed over years by other candidates to lead the nation someone else's burden?"

Choi also pointed out, "Even in writing academic papers, failing to cite sources is plagiarism, and plagiarism can lead to degree revocation." He emphasized, "While we appreciate the recognition that former lawmaker Yoo's pledge is a necessary and excellent policy, if you like it, please acknowledge the source when using it," concluding, "If you are new to politics, start by learning honesty."

A post uploaded by former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min on his Facebook on the 22nd.
[Photo by former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min]

Former lawmaker Yoo also directly criticized. On the same day, Yoo posted on his Facebook titled "Candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, what kind of workplace is mandatory military service?" He remarked, "If you copy and paste someone else's pledge as is, isn't it common courtesy to at least ask for permission?" and sarcastically asked, "Are both spouses plagiarists, former Prosecutor General Yoon?"

Yoo continued, "Does former Prosecutor General Yoon, who did not fulfill his military service obligation due to anisometropia, see mandatory military service as a workplace?" He questioned, "Isn't the military a place you must go because military duty is an obligation during the most important period of life, even if you don't want to?" He also said, "This is the first time I've heard that a workplace counts towards housing subscription points," and added, "Can an unstable candidate who causes trouble every time he opens his mouth bring about a regime change?" concluding, "It would be better to have a proxy announcement like last time."

This was interpreted as a response to former Prosecutor General Yoon's remark during a Q&A session after announcing his pledge, where he said, "Since housing subscription considers family and workplace, military service was regarded as a type of workplace." Currently, the criteria for housing subscription points include the period of being without a home, number of dependents, and subscription period to the housing subscription savings account; workplace experience is not included.

Regarding Yoo's plagiarism accusation of Yoon's 'Additional Points for Military Service Veterans in Housing Subscription' pledge, Yoon's campaign rebutted, stating, "The national defense pledge targeting youth was selected and refined based on policy proposals suggested or hoped for by young people," adding, "Since the earnest desires of the generation are being expressed, similar ideas and voices can naturally be included."

They continued, "The issue of awarding additional points to military service members has been a topic of discussion in the political sphere," and noted, "Rather than debating the order of pledge announcements, what matters is the effort to realize the hopes of young people through pledges."