Ahead of the general election, controversy has arisen over the 'return of old boys,' and Yoon Doo-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, criticized, “Allowing even those who have served prison sentences for criminal acts to run (in elections) only further accumulates public distrust in politics.”
In an interview on June 7 with KBS Radio’s ‘Jeon Jong-cheol’s Jeonggyeok Sisa,’ Rep. Yoon said, “I believe that when things go wrong or become abnormal in the world, one must start with self-reflection,” adding, “Politics should be future-oriented; regressing to the past does not help progress.”
Regarding the People Power Party’s nomination management committee’s decision to exclude 29 individuals from the nomination screening, he explained, “According to Article 14 of our party’s regulations on recommending candidates for constituency members of the National Assembly, anyone involved in crimes such as bribery, solicitation, fraud, embezzlement, property crimes, violations of the Political Funds Act, or election law violations is fundamentally excluded from nomination.” He added, “Furthermore, the nomination committee has decided not to conduct nomination screenings, including interviews, for those who have received disciplinary actions above withdrawal requests, secondary victims of sexual violence, perpetrators of workplace harassment or school violence, drug offenders, and those criminally punished for the four major disqualifying corruptions related to admissions, recruitment, military service, and nationality.”
Regarding Choi Kyung-hwan, former Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy, who registered as a preliminary candidate last month in Yoon’s constituency of Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, and expressed his intention to run as an independent, Yoon pointed out, “About seven years ago, Choi left the party after being sentenced to prison for bribery involving National Intelligence Service special activity funds and has not been reinstated.” He added, “According to Article 14 of our party’s regulations on recommending candidates for constituency members of the National Assembly, anyone involved in bribery or related crimes is fundamentally excluded from nomination, and Choi also falls under the moral standards for disqualification set by the People Power Party’s nomination management committee.”
On May 29, Choi held a press conference at Gyeongsan Station Square, stating, “I was not guaranteed the opportunity to participate in the People Power Party’s primary. Most citizens of Gyeongsan understand that they are victims of political retaliation and oppression by the Moon Jae-in administration,” and announced his registration as a preliminary candidate and intention to run as an independent. In response, the Democratic Party’s Gyeongbuk Provincial Party issued a statement last month, saying, “In October 2014, Choi received 10 million won in cash from the National Intelligence Service director and was sentenced in July 2019 to five years in prison, a fine of 150 million won, and a confiscation of 10 million won,” adding, “Despite being punished as a main culprit in the state manipulation scandal, he shows no remorse, mocks the citizens of Gyeongsan, attempts to run in the general election, and once again pursues power ambitions,” urging Choi Kyung-hwan to withdraw his candidacy.
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