Jowonjin: "Yoon's Election Interference Much Worse Than Park Geun-hye's"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Cho Won-jin, leader of the Our Republican Party, recently criticized the controversy surrounding the party convention's 'Yunsim (尹心)' as 'election interference,' stating that it is more severe than during President Park Geun-hye's administration.

On the 9th, Cho appeared on YTN's "News King Park Ji-hoon" and said, "(President Yoon Seok-yeol) keeps showing involvement in internal party matters. That is not right."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding Na Kyung-won, Vice Chair of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee's 'loan forgiveness' low birthrate policy, which the presidential office dismissed, he said, "It is not timely for the presidential office to speak about Vice Chair Na like this," adding, "While Vice Chair Na is indeed at fault, is it necessary to be so harsh?"

He continued, "In a country with separation of powers, I want to believe it is not the president's intention, but it is election interference," adding, "(Compared to President Park Geun-hye's time) it is much worse now."

He also expressed concern that the party convention could turn into a 'Yun Hae-gwan (Yoon Seok-yeol core associates) versus anti-Yun Hae-gwan' conflict due to the presidential office's aggressive stance. He pointed out, "If the presidential office or the president takes a hardline approach against the leading candidate in the People Power Party's convention polls, the convention might end up as a Yun Hae-gwan versus anti-Yun Hae-gwan battle," adding, "Another possibility is a metropolitan area versus non-metropolitan area division, where the metropolitan area would be aligned with Na Kyung-won, Ahn Cheol-soo, and Yoon Sang-hyun, possibly including Yoo Seung-min. What will happen then?"

He predicted that Vice Chair Na's candidacy would prevent former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min from running. Cho said, "If Vice Chair Na does not run, the probability of former lawmaker Yoo running is very high, but if Vice Chair Na runs, Yoo will not run," adding, "If the runoff election naturally becomes a metropolitan area versus non-metropolitan area and Yun Hae-gwan versus anti-Yun Hae-gwan contest, it will be very difficult for President Yoon."