"Jang Je-won, the sole representative for unification who said 'I will serve in white,' sparks another 'Yun Core Group controversy'"

Yoon "Jang Je-won's brother-in-law is a KAIST professor and close to Ahn"
Ruling party "Mocking the people," "The core of Yoon's core" fierce criticism

Jang Je-won, member of the People Power Party./Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] As it became known that Representative Jang Je-won took on the role of plenipotentiary agent during the unification negotiations between Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, and Ahn Cheol-soo, the People's Party's presidential candidate, the controversy over Yoon's core aides (Yoonhakkwan) reignited. The People Power Party explained that Representative Jang and Candidate Ahn have a close relationship, which led to the negotiations, but the Democratic Party of Korea launched an offensive, claiming that Representative Jang, who holds no official position, still exerts influence.

On the 27th, Candidate Yoon stated at a press conference related to the unification that he had given full authority to Representative Jang to conduct negotiations with the People's Party side. When asked, "Who are the plenipotentiary agents on both sides?" Yoon explained, "Our side's plenipotentiary agent is Representative Jang Je-won, and on the other side, it is Lee Tae-gyu, the head of the campaign headquarters."

Regarding the background of Representative Jang stepping in as the negotiation agent, Yoon said, "Representative Jang's brother-in-law is a KAIST professor, and I understand he is close to Candidate Ahn, so I thought it would be convenient for them to communicate with each other." He added, "I also understand that Candidate Ahn agreed to have Representative Jang participate in the negotiations." According to the unification negotiation progress disclosed by the People Power Party, Representative Jang and Head Lee had contact even before Candidate Ahn withdrew the unification proposal, and they continued related consultations from 12:40 a.m. to 4 a.m. on that day.

Representative Jang currently holds no official position in the People Power Party's election campaign headquarters. During last year's primary process, he served as the head of the comprehensive situation room for Yoon Seok-yeol's campaign, directing overall election operations, but stepped down after incidents involving his son's drunk driving and assault on a police officer surfaced. At that time, Representative Jang expressed his intention to resign voluntarily, saying, "I will support Candidate Yoon's presidential victory while serving in the background." Shortly after the primary, he was mentioned as a possible secretary to Candidate Yoon, but after severe conflicts with Representative Lee Jun-seok due to the Yoonhakkwan controversy, he repeatedly stated his intention to withdraw from the forefront of the election, saying, "I have never sought a position. I will leave Candidate Yoon's side."

After it became known that Representative Jang was the plenipotentiary agent, the Democratic Party launched a full-scale offensive, calling it "mockery of the people." Floor leader Yoon Ho-jung criticized at a campaign meeting held at the Democratic Party headquarters in Yeouido, "They said Jang Je-won, who has no position and does not even come to work, is not a Yoonhakkwan, but it turned out to be a lie. (Representative Jang) is the core of Yoonhakkwan." Woo Sang-ho, the general head of the campaign headquarters, also pointed out in an interview with TBS Radio, "It confirmed that the person who actually pulls all the strings behind the scenes is indeed Representative Jang."

The People Power Party's position is that this case is different from the Yoonhakkwan controversy and that there is no problem. Representative Lee, who had been rumored to have conflicts with Representative Jang, said, "If someone influences decision-making, they are a Yoonhakkwan, but Representative Jang took responsibility this time," adding, "Representative Jang's participation in the negotiations was a considerate act toward Candidate Ahn." However, there are criticisms that it is difficult to accept that Representative Jang, who had declared he would serve in the background, took on the important role of plenipotentiary agent for the unification, the biggest variable in this election. Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon said, "Representative Jang is a key figure in the controversial Yoonhakkwan, and although he had stated he would not be involved in the election, his words have changed," adding, "Even if he is close to Candidate Ahn's side, it would have been right to exclude him."