Lee Jun-seok: "Please Return to Yoon Seok-yeol, the Star Prosecutor Loved by the People"

"Yoon Watched Power Loss While Leading Park Geun-hye Special Prosecutor"
"Must Show Cooperation Now"

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform New Party, commented on the Special Prosecutor Act for Sergeant Chae, which passed the National Assembly plenary session led by the Democratic Party of Korea, saying, "If President Yoon Seok-yeol were currently Prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol, he would have said to investigate and root out the issue," and added, "I hope he returns to the image of Prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol, who was loved by the public as a star prosecutor."

On the 3rd, on KBS Radio's 'Jeonggyeok Sisa,' Lee said, "President Yoon will obviously use his right to request reconsideration (veto)," and pointed out, "This law aims to uncover the truth about the tragic death of Sergeant Chae Su-geun, but many citizens are curious why President Yoon is responding so defensively." He continued, "President Yoon's response is arousing much suspicion," and criticized, "It raises doubts about whether there was problematic behavior at the Yongsan Presidential Office or if there is something beyond just uncovering the truth. From the president's standpoint, this is a very unfavorable choice."

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform New Party. [Image source=Yonhap News]

He then raised the argument that President Yoon, who led the special prosecution into former President Park Geun-hye's state affairs manipulation, might be avoiding the current special prosecution based on his past experience. Lee said, "President Yoon was the special prosecutor team leader during former President Park's state affairs manipulation case," and added, "Having witnessed the process of former President Park losing power, he might be pre-judging what could happen with the mindset of an investigating prosecutor."

He said, "There seems to be a lot of suspicion like, 'If I undergo the special prosecution for Sergeant Chae now, they might summon and investigate all our people to politically oust me,'" and added, "Coming out so defensively now is actually fueling such suspicions."

Lee pointed out that if the president uses his veto power again amid the ruling party's crushing defeat in the April 10 general election, it could generate negative public opinion. He said, "The biggest problem with the Yoon Seok-yeol government is that it has been a minority party for two years but not even pitiful," adding, "'They lost the election and are still acting like this? They should be hit harder.'" He also argued, "The ruling party losing the election in a minority government situation is an unprecedented event," and said, "If during the two years of minority government, they had shown efforts to compromise politically and not been swayed by the opposition's forceful measures, the public might have given them more seats out of pity."

Furthermore, he emphasized, "With three years left in the term, if the president sincerely engages in cooperation now, the public will make a wise judgment," and urged, "The president should take advice from his close aides and adopt a less aggressive approach."

The day before, the 'Special Prosecutor Act for Sergeant Chae,' aimed at investigating the external pressure controversy surrounding the death of the late Marine Sergeant Chae Su-geun, passed the National Assembly plenary session led by the Democratic Party. In response, the Presidential Office expressed strong regret and stated it would "respond sternly," which was interpreted as hinting at President Yoon's possible use of veto power.