"'Investigation of Moon's Son-in-law' Centralized in Jeonju? Political Retaliation"
Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Yoon Geon-young conveyed the party's atmosphere, saying "many lawmakers were surprised" at the election of lawmaker Woo Won-sik as the candidate for Speaker of the National Assembly amid the 'Eo-ui-chu' (Anyway, the Speaker is Chu Mi-ae) sentiment.
On the 17th, Yoon appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' and said, "Among many elections in the world, there is a saying that the most unpredictable election is the one held by lawmakers," adding that the result was unexpected.
The day before, the Democratic Party held a general meeting of the elected candidates for the Speaker of the 22nd National Assembly's first half and announced that five-term lawmaker Woo was selected as the candidate for Speaker. Initially, the newly coined term 'Eo-ui-chu' had emerged, indicating that six-term lawmaker Chu Mi-ae was the likely candidate for Speaker, so Woo's selection as the candidate caused an upset.
Yoon said, "Regarding this result, Representative Lee Jae-myung evaluated it as the party's sentiment. So I think it is best to accept it as it is," adding, "From now on, it is important to make the National Assembly a reformist and livelihood-focused assembly. There is a word called 'Myeongshim' (Lee Jae-myung's mind), and both candidates Woo Won-sik and Chu Mi-ae are close to Representative Lee Jae-myung."
Regarding the defeat of Chu, who had gained 'Myeongshim,' some interpret it as a check against the 'Lee Jae-myung representative's one-pole system.' On this, Yoon said, "It is meaningless to analyze various things after the election," and "Dividing the Democratic Party into pro-Lee and anti-Lee factions is inappropriate. The current party leader is Representative Lee Jae-myung, and it is right to unite tightly around the leader."
Regarding the prosecution's investigation into allegations that former President Moon Jae-in's ex-son-in-law was given preferential employment at an airline, Yoon said, "What does it have to do with former Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Sang-jik becoming the chairman of the Small and Medium Business Corporation and the ex-president's son-in-law's employment?" adding, "If the prosecution's claim is true, the president's son-in-law should not be employed anywhere in South Korea. The prosecution is conducting an 'Indian rainmaking ritual'-style investigation."
Regarding speculation that the case, which was supervised by the new Seoul Central District Prosecutor Lee Chang-soo during his tenure as Jeonju District Prosecutor, might be transferred to the Central District Prosecutors' Office, Yoon emphasized, "The investigation that was being conducted at Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office should be done there."
Yoon said, "Just because the Jeonju District Prosecutor becomes the Central District Prosecutor, does he take all cases with him?" adding, "Who investigates the case? The responsible prosecutor does, not the district prosecutor. So why take it away? A normal person should have said yesterday to reporters (about the possibility of case transfer), 'That will not happen.' Saying 'We will discuss it' means it is not a matter to decide alone, but he wants to take it with him." He then pointed out, "This is a statement proving political retaliation and a planned investigation," and criticized, "Yesterday's statement by the Central District Prosecutor was a mistake."
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