Yoon Suk-yeol: "Jeon Du-hwan Did Well in Politics Except for Military Coup and May 18 Incident"
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, a presidential primary candidate of the People Power Party, sparked controversy by making remarks that seemed to defend former President Jeon Du-hwan. On the 19th, former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon said, "There are no votes to be gained in Yeongnam from these remarks."
On the same day, on CBS Radio's 'Hanpanseungbu,' former professor Jin said to Yoon, "He was careless. These remarks only appeal to a very small group, such as the Taegeukgi Unit," expressing his opinion.
Democratic Party lawmaker Woo Sang-ho, who appeared together, also commented on Yoon's remarks, saying, "When speaking off the cuff, he might have given a wrong example. Then he should apologize. But in the next schedule, Yoon rebutted by saying, 'So, did former President Jeon do everything wrong?' That is the bigger problem."
In response, former professor Jin pointed out, "Recently, Yoon has been responding in that manner repeatedly. I wonder if he is learning politics poorly. I also have doubts whether he thinks that is what politics is."
He continued, "If there is something to apologize for, the basics of politics are to apologize quickly and move on. The Democratic Party collapsed because it turned situations that required moral apologies into political breakthroughs, didn't it?" he criticized. He added, "I am very dissatisfied because I think Yoon is going down the same path as the Democratic Party."
Yoon Seok-yeol, the preliminary presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is speaking at the 'Gyeongnam Election Committee Appointment Ceremony' held at the Gyeongnam Provincial Party Office in Uichang-gu, Changwon, on the afternoon of the 19th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Earlier, Yoon visited the Haeundae Gap Party Member Council in Haeundae-gu, Busan, and said, "Former President Jeon made mistakes except for the military coup and the May 18 incident, but many say he was really good at politics," adding, "People from Honam also say that."
He continued, "The reason they say he was good at politics is because he entrusted it to experts. He was in the military and had experience managing organizations, so he entrusted it," and said, "At that time, there was the '3 lows phenomenon (low interest rates, low oil prices, low dollar),' but because he entrusted it, things went well."
As controversy over the remarks grew, Yoon emphasized at the People Power Party Gyeongnam Provincial Party Office in Changwon, Gyeongnam, in the afternoon, "What was done well was done well, and I clearly said that the May 18 incident and the military coup were wrong," adding, "Whenever I speak, people cut off the beginning and the end, but if you look at the full text, everything is there."
He also explained, "He made many mistakes during his seven years in power, and it is not that he was good at politics overall," and said, "From the perspective of delegation of authority, there are things to learn, which is what subsequent presidents and experts say, and some people from Honam also say that."
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