Yoo Seung-min: "After Lee Jae-myung's First Trial Verdict, Focus on the Presidential Couple... Special Prosecutor Needed"

"The Time to Discuss Accepting the Special Prosecutor Law for First Lady Kim Keon-hee"

Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min predicted that "after the first trial imprisonment of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, public attention will turn to President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife," and that pressure for government reform will increase.

On the 20th, Yoo said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "The public is asking President Yoon and the People Power Party, 'Are you confident and upright?' It is a question of fairness and equity," adding, "Recently, regarding First Lady Kim Keon-hee, the special prosecutor was refused, and all allegations related to her were dismissed at the prosecution stage. Also, a strange fraudster named Myeong Tae-gyun appeared, spreading all sorts of stories, but the prosecution is not indicting him."

Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min. Photo by Yonhap News

He continued, "That is why the talk of a special prosecutor is coming up," and said, "Since Leader Lee Jae-myung ended up like that, the public will view President Yoon and his wife, as well as the People Power Party, with a stricter and harsher eye. It is time to wake up."

Yoo emphasized that it is time for the People Power Party to discuss accepting the special prosecutor law concerning First Lady Kim Keon-hee. He said, "I think Han Dong-hoon, the party leader, and People Power Party lawmakers should consider and organize their thoughts on the special prosecutor law for the First Lady and accept it," adding, "In the current situation, if they do not accept the special prosecutor law for the First Lady, can the President properly carry out his duties during the remaining two and a half years of his term?"

Regarding the presidential office's acceleration of follow-up measures such as establishing a second secretariat and restraining the First Lady's public activities after President Yoon's promise of reform, Yoo expressed skepticism, saying, "They are trying to proceed without accepting the special prosecutor, meaning they want to just brush aside the problems that have occurred so far with an apology," and added, "I am not sure if this will be accepted by the public."

On personnel reform within the presidential office, Yoo stressed the need to find figures who can demonstrate a change in governance. He said, "We need to appoint people who do not rely on the First Lady's unofficial line, Myeong Tae-gyun, or Cheonggong, but who will show that our President has truly changed and will work hard centered on the cabinet during the remaining term," and criticized, "If you appoint people who just stay silent when the President is furious, no matter how many personnel changes you make, nothing will change in governance."