Yoon Geon-young: "Moon's Bookstore, Creating a New Culture and Model for Former Presidents"

Regarding the Passion Pay Controversy, "Quickly Address the Issues Raised"

Yoon Gun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, highly praised former President Moon Jae-in's privately funded 'Pyeongsan Bookstore' in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, saying, "I think former President Moon is creating a culture and model for former presidents."

In an interview with MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the morning of the 11th, Yoon said, "Unfortunately, with former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye having served time in prison, the culture or a kind of model regarding former presidents has disappeared."

Former President Moon Jae-in is seen with a bright expression at his bookstore 'Pyeongsan Bookstore' in Habuk-myeon, Yangsan-si, Gyeongnam Province, on the afternoon of the 26th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News

Recently, Pyeongsan Bookstore withdrew its recruitment of volunteers to work at the bookstore after a controversy arose over 'passion pay.'

In response, Yoon acknowledged the controversy, saying, "The passion pay issue was something I also overlooked," but defended the bookstore by adding, "Since many people wanted to volunteer, I think the bookstore tried to recruit systematically." He also added, "I believe they quickly addressed the various issues raised."

When the host asked, "There are political criticisms that many books related to former President Moon Jae-in have been sold at the bookstore," Yoon replied, "I think the People Power Party is summoning President Moon too much." Yoon emphasized, "Don't blame the previous administration every time you open your mouth and drag it into the political arena. A former president cannot just breathe and live. I hope people watch over the tradition and culture of former presidents doing 'what they can' for their regions and communities."