Jin Joong-kwon: "Yoon Seok-yeol's 'Jeon Du-hwan Remarks' Are Fatal... Refusal to Apologize Is Also a Problem"

Jin Joong-kwon on Yoon's Comment about Jeon Du-hwan: "It Will Negatively Affect the Primary Election"

Former Dongyang University Professor Jin Joong-kwon. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Jin Joong-kwon, former professor at Dongyang University, criticized on the 20th that Yoon Seok-yeol, former Prosecutor General and a presidential primary candidate of the People Power Party, is not apologizing for his remarks 'defending Jeon Du-hwan,' saying it will "bring fatal consequences."

On the same day, Jin posted on his Facebook, saying, "Yoon Seok-yeol's recent remarks are problematic in themselves, but his refusal to apologize is a bigger issue."

He pointed out, "Whether it is personal stubbornness or a strategy to appeal to the conservative base, the political aftermath of this remark is on a different level from his other gaffes," adding, "It will probably have a negative impact on the (People Power Party presidential) primary as well."

Earlier, on the 19th, Yoon visited the Busan Haeundae-gap Party Members' Council and said, "Although former President Jeon Du-hwan made mistakes, many say that except for the military coup and the May 18 Gwangju Incident, his politics were good. Even people from Honam say such things."

He continued, "The reason they say (his politics were good) is because he entrusted experts. He was in the military and had experience managing organizations, so he entrusted them," adding, "At that time, there was the '3 lows phenomenon (low interest rates, low oil prices, low dollar),' but because he entrusted them, things went well."

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, a presidential primary candidate of the People Power Party, is greeting supporters at the appointment ceremony of the Daegu campaign headquarters held at the Daegu City Party Office on the 20th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

As controversy arose, Yoon posted on his Facebook the next day, explaining, "What I wanted to say was that if I become president, I will appoint experts and talents in each field to the right places so that they can demonstrate their capabilities," and "The president will not micromanage everything but will allow outstanding talents in each field to fully demonstrate their abilities and manage state affairs systematically."

He added, "Recalling that during the military dictatorship of the Jeon Du-hwan regime, Kim Jae-ik, then the Blue House economic chief, was called the 'economic president' because of his expert capabilities, I emphasized the importance of the president appointing competent talents well so that they can fulfill their roles for the people."

He also said, "It goes without saying that the Jeon Du-hwan regime was a dictatorship that suppressed liberal democracy. I was a university student at the time and played the role of a judge in the mock trial of the December 12 coup, sentencing Jeon Du-hwan, a key figure of the new military regime, to life imprisonment. My historical consciousness has not changed since then," adding that while he actively explained his historical awareness in response to criticism, he did not apologize for his remarks.

Meanwhile, Kim Kyung-jin, special advisor for external cooperation of the Yoon Seok-yeol campaign, said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' when asked about the possibility of Yoon himself apologizing, "Our staff will try to discuss it once."