Ruling Party Leadership Candidates Clash Again Over Special Prosecutor and Party Affairs Intervention... Faded Policy Debate

At the Debate, Special Prosecutor Chae Sang-byeong and Party-Government Conflict Raised
Na Kyung-won Questions Party Interference Mentioning Park Geun-hye
Han Dong-hoon Calls Na's Remarks "Wordplay"

Na Kyung-won, Won Hee-ryong, and Yoon Sang-hyun, candidates running for the People Power Party leadership, clashed again with candidate Han Dong-hoon on the 17th over issues such as the Chae Sang-byeong special prosecutor law, party-government conflicts, and allegations involving the comment team. The economic and social policy debate, which barely got underway due to the repeated questions and answers from previous debates and the ensuing heated exchanges, lost its luster.

The People Power Party leadership contenders criticized Han Dong-hoon, who explained the purpose of proposing the third-party Chae Sang-byeong special prosecutor law, during the 4th broadcast debate hosted by CBS Radio on the morning of the 17th, following the 3rd broadcast debate hosted by Channel A the previous afternoon. They pointed out that "we should wait for the results of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) investigation." Han responded, "Currently, the CIO investigation is being led by prosecutors appointed during the Moon Jae-in administration," adding, "From the perspective of an investigation expert, the investigation is too aggressive. It is necessary to propose the Chae Sang-byeong special prosecutor law in advance to change this situation and find a breakthrough from our standpoint."

In response, candidate Na said, "What we are trying to uphold are principles to prevent a series of subsequent special prosecutors," and argued, "If principles are shaken by various special prosecutors, the Han Dong-hoon special prosecutor will probably proceed as well." During the 3rd debate held the previous day, when candidate Won asked, "Shouldn't Han, who has nothing to hide, accept the Han Dong-hoon special prosecutor law?" Han countered, "Won is riding on the Democratic Party's unreasonable claims. Rather, Won's attitude is the problem," reflecting a similar line of questioning and answers that reemerged.

Na Kyung-won, Won Hee-ryong, Han Dong-hoon, and Yoon Sang-hyun, four candidates for the People Power Party leadership, are taking a commemorative photo on the 11th at the MBN studio in Jung-gu, Seoul, before the second broadcast debate for party leader candidates. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

The controversy over interference in party affairs also resurfaced. Han previously expressed his stance that those who made public the Telegram messages from Kim Geon-hee, which he did not reply to, were engaging in "dangerous acts that many might perceive as abnormal interference in the party's presidential election or party affairs." Candidate Na questioned Han about whether the request by Lee Gwan-seop, then Presidential Secretary, for Han to resign as the emergency committee chairman during the last general election was interference in party affairs or subject to prosecution. Han replied, "I have never precisely stated that it was interference in party affairs," to which Na raised his voice, saying, "You said it was interference in party affairs to the whole world. This provides grounds for impeachment plus threatens the president."

Candidate Won also asked Han, "Was President Yoon's urging to lead the party during the general election interference in party affairs or not?" Han answered, "At that time, President Yoon did not order me to accept the emergency committee chairman position but rather encouraged me to lead the ruling party." However, when asked by the moderator whether a prosecution investigation was necessary regarding allegations of Kim Geon-hee receiving luxury handbags, all four candidates agreed that President Yoon's conduct was inappropriate and that no one is above the law, thus supporting the need for a prosecution investigation.

Candidate Na also brought up Han's past as a prosecutor when he indicted former President Park Geun-hye for allegedly interfering in the Saenuri Party's nomination committee appointment, repeatedly raising the interference in party affairs controversy. Na said, "If Lee Gwan-seop's request to resign is interference in party affairs, then interference in party affairs is indeed subject to criminal prosecution, right? Or not?" Han mentioned that former President Park was convicted, and Na pressed again, "Since you indicted her, she was convicted, right? Weren't you the prosecutor in charge? Why don't you answer when it is unfavorable to you?"

Han retorted, "You're playing with words," and Na criticized, "That is not the right attitude for a debate." Han responded, "Don't try to lecture me too much," and their voices grew louder. Han also criticized Na, who had criticized him for failing to indict former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung while Han was Minister of Justice, saying, "You keep saying I should feel responsible because the arrest warrant was dismissed, but no matter politics, that is unreasonable." He added, "Is it the Minister of Justice's job to intervene in investigations to get an arrest warrant issued?" and revealed, "Didn't you ask me to drop the indictment in your fast-track case?"

Han launched an offensive against candidate Won's proposal to introduce a Red Team, saying, "The Red Team should be a structure that can always speak frankly, but the Red Team actually censors and controls the party leader's direct speech to the president." Won countered, "I understand the concerns without experience, but various groups, such as critical lawmakers, committee chairs, responsible party members, those who sharply criticize in the media, and people from all walks of life who love the People Power Party but have things to say to the current government, especially the youth, will be gathered to form the Red Team, allowing unlimited debate and delivering it as is."

Following the economic and social sectors debate the previous day, issues such as inflation and other livelihood matters were discussed on this day, but harsh language prevented policy from becoming the focus of the debate. The previous day, Han pointed out to Na his stance against non-consensual rape and to Won his proposal regarding foreign voting rights; although there were some disagreements, they agreed on opposing non-consensual rape and granting foreign voting rights based on reciprocity. They also voiced opposition to same-sex marriage and the Democratic Party's proposed anti-discrimination law. Candidate Yoon said, "It is regrettable that our party convention has escalated to violence amid betrayal controversies," adding, "Lowering our pride and first making efforts to appeal and reach out is the way to escape the betrayer frame."

[Image source=Yonhap News]