Former Military Legal Officer Jeon Won-chaek: "'Operation Plan 5015' is the correct answer by Yoon... Hong Joon-pyo also seems unaware"

"In an emergency, the correct action is to speak with the US President"

Attorney Jeon Won-chae, a former Army legal officer, is explaining Operation Plan 5015. ./Photo by YouTube 'Jeon Won-chae TV Exile Broadcast' capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Lawyer Jeon Wonchek, a former military legal officer of the Army, claimed that National Assembly member Hong Joonpyo, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, and former Prosecutor General Yoon Seokyeol's debate over 'Operation Plan 5015 (Jakgye 5015)' was addressed correctly by Yoon.

On the 28th, on his YouTube channel 'Jeon Wonchek TV Exile Broadcast,' Lawyer Jeon said, "(At the debate) Member Hong said that the part about the U.S. president being contacted when Jakgye 5015 is activated had already been agreed upon, but it seems that Member Hong also does not fully understand Jakgye 5015."

Lawyer Jeon explained, "Jakgye 5015 was enacted in 2015, which is why it has '15' at the end. The previous plans, Jakgye 5027 and 5028, were operational plans from the 20th century," adding, "Unlike those operational plans, Jakgye 5015 is designed to carry out preemptive strikes and decapitation operations if there are signs of North Korean provocations."

He continued, "Jakgye 5015 is activated in a state of warning signs before war breaks out," and said, "In that case, what should the president do in an emergency? More precisely, the NSC (National Security Council) as well as the military leadership should be convened, and the president should discuss the response by communicating with the U.S. president."

Lawyer Jeon pointed out, "Yoon Seokyeol, who does not know well, actually gave the correct answer. Contacting the U.S. president is the right answer," and added, "Since Jakgye 5015 is planned to carry out preemptive strikes and decapitation operations upon signs of North Korean provocations, it is naturally a military secret that should not be discussed in a presidential candidate debate."

Yoon Seok-yeol (from the right), Hwang Kyo-ahn, Won Hee-ryong, Ha Tae-kyung, Yoo Seung-min, Choi Jae-hyung, Ahn Sang-soo, and Hong Joon-pyo, candidates for the People Power Party's presidential primary, are taking a commemorative photo before the third broadcast debate of the 20th presidential primary held at Channel A Studio in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 26th. / Photo by National Assembly Press Corps [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the afternoon of the 26th, Member Hong and former Prosecutor General Yoon engaged in a heated debate over Jakgye 5015 during the third TV debate of the People Power Party presidential primary.

When Member Hong asked, "If Jakgye 5015 is activated, what is the first thing the president should do?" Former Prosecutor General Yoon replied, "If I were the president, since we would conduct a combined U.S.-South Korea operation, I would first contact the U.S. president." Then Member Hong responded, "That has already been agreed upon," and pointed out, "What the president must decide is whether to go to war or not."

After the debate, Yoon's side countered criticism that he was unprepared regarding national security by saying, "It was wrong to discuss classified matters at the presidential debate itself."

In response, Member Hong posted on his Facebook on the morning of the 27th, stating, "Jakgye 5015 is a combined U.S.-South Korea operational plan for emergencies that has already been disclosed to the media," and added, "While the detailed contents are military secrets, mentioning it itself is not a problem."