Yoon Seok-yeol's 'Jeon Du-hwan Defense Remarks' Controversy... Lee "Humiliation of Honam People" Liu "Outrageous Statement" (Summary)

Yoon: "Many Say Jeon Du-hwan Did Well Politically"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential primary candidate, is speaking at the 'Gyeongnam Election Committee Appointment Ceremony' held on the afternoon of the 19th at the Gyeongnam Provincial Party Office in Uichang-gu, Changwon.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Sharp criticism continues in the political sphere over former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's remarks that appeared to defend former President Jeon Du-hwan.

On the 19th, Yoon visited the office of Ha Tae-kyung, a People Power Party lawmaker from Busan Haeundae-gap, and mentioned former President Jeon, saying, "Except for the military coup and the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, there are some wrongdoings, but many say he was good at politics," adding, "People from Honam also say such things."

In response, Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate (and current Governor of Gyeonggi Province), criticized on Facebook, stating, "The wounds of Gwangju have not yet healed, and the truth has not been fully uncovered," and asked, "Do you think it makes sense to say that a mass murderer is a good person if you exclude the mass murder?"

He then urged former Prosecutor General Yoon to "immediately offer a profound apology for the insult to the spirits of Gwangju and the people of Honam."

The camp of Yoo Seung-min, a presidential candidate from the same party, also condemned Yoon's remarks as "absurd comments." Kwon Sung-joo, spokesperson for Yoo's camp, said in a statement that day, "Yoon has become a candidate who utters absurd comments every day, surpassing the 'one absurd comment a day' candidate, becoming a 'buzzard' candidate who spits out absurdities whenever he opens his mouth," and added, "Whether to cover up his lack of ability or as an extreme right-wing move to become the party candidate, defending the Jeon Du-hwan dictatorship by even mentioning 'people from Honam' is absolutely unacceptable."

He continued, "Our People Power Party has sincerely approached Honam to overcome regional conflicts and become a nationwide party, and has knelt and apologized for the wrong history," adding, "Yoon's absurd remarks today, which seriously insult Honam, are the worst of absurd comments that make all those efforts and sincerity a lie."

Spokesperson Kwon urged, "Yoon, the biggest burden for regime change and a buzzard of absurd comments, if you are not prepared, please at least keep your mouth shut."