Yoon Seok-yeol Responds to 'Political Retaliation' Question: "We Did Not Comb Through Every Detail in Investigating Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye"

When Asked About the Investigations of Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye
"It Was Not a Witch Hunt"
On the Roh Moo-hyun Probe: "Only a Foolish President Would Pursue Such an Investigation"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential pre-candidate of the People Power Party, is participating in the 4th TV debate at Busan MBC on the afternoon of the 18th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential pre-candidate of the People Power Party, expressed the view that the investigations leading to the imprisonment of former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, which he once led, were not politically motivated retaliations. Yoon served as the head of the investigation team during the special prosecution led by Park Young-soo that investigated the Park Geun-hye administration's state affairs manipulation case.

On the afternoon of the 18th, at the joint debate for Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam held at Busan MBC, when former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong asked, "Are the investigations and imprisonments of former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye acts of justice or political retaliation?" Yoon responded, "We did not comb through every detail of the two former presidents' cases."

When former Governor Won further asked, "What is the difference between legal processing and political retaliation?" Yoon said, "Cases like the Cho Kuk incident or Lee Jae-myung's Asura Gate, which naturally come to light, should be dealt with. However, if someone is targeted and their surroundings are investigated continuously for a whole year, that is political retaliation."

Regarding the investigation of former President Roh Moo-hyun, Yoon stated, "I was not involved in that investigation at the time, but investigating a former president in such a manner would be a huge burden on the administration, so only a very foolish politician or a foolish president would do that."

Yoon also expressed his opinion that communication with the opposition party is possible in a political landscape where the ruling party is in the minority. When former Governor Won asked, "The Democratic Party seems to hold hostility beyond mere dislike toward you. Can you manage a smooth ruling-minority and opposition-majority situation?" Yoon replied, "It is definitely possible," adding, "There are many excellent politicians in the Democratic Party as well."