Yoo Seung-min's Remark "Yoon Seok-yeol, Do You Think You'll Become the Second Jeon Du-hwan?" Revisited

2021 People Power Party Presidential Primary Debate
Yoo Seung-min Criticizes "Jeon Du-hwan Regime Has No Legitimacy Due to Treason"
Yoon Seok-youl Responds "Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in University Mock Trial"

"Does candidate Yoon Seok-yeol perhaps think that he will become the second Jeon Du-hwan?"

On October 20, 2021, at the People Power Party presidential primary debate for the Daegu·Gyeongbuk region, candidate Yoo Seung-min asked then-candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, now President Yoon, this question.

This question, raised during the primary process to select the People Power Party's presidential candidate three years ago, has been reexamined following President Yoon's declaration of martial law on the 3rd. On the 9th, the Ministry of Justice imposed a travel ban on President Yoon at the request of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit and the prosecution. President Yoon became the first sitting president to be subjected to a travel ban during his term.

In response to Yoo's question at the time, candidate Yoon said, "During my university days, I served as a mock trial judge for the December 12 military coup that occurred just before the May 18 Gwangju Uprising and sentenced the defendants to life imprisonment," adding, "The spirit of May 18 should be included in the preamble of the Constitution. I have consistently argued that this should be done during constitutional amendments."

Four candidates who passed the second preliminary round of the People Power Party. From the left, candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, candidate Hong Joon-pyo, candidate Yoo Seung-min, candidate Hwang Kyo-ahn. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Although candidate Yoon emphasized the spirit of May 18, controversy grew when it became known that the day before the debate, he visited Busan and stated, "Even people from Honam say that Jeon Du-hwan's politics were good." On October 19, 2021, during a visit to the Haeundae-eul Party Members' Council in Haeundae District, Busan, Yoon said, "President Jeon Du-hwan made mistakes, but except for the military coup and May 18, many say his politics were good," and "There are quite a few people in Honam who say that." He explained the reason for such opinions by saying that Jeon Du-hwan "entrusted work to experts," adding, "Because he had experience managing organizations while in the military." He further stated that he would also "place the best people in finance, budget, and economy in the right positions."

Candidate Yoo appeared shocked by Yoon's historical perception and raised concerns. Even within the People Power Party at the time, criticism poured in, calling it "a reckless remark showing shallow awareness" and "immature political language."

Yoo asked Yoon about the difference between former President Park Chung-hee and former President Jeon Du-hwan, questioning the lawlessness of Jeon Du-hwan's regime again. Yoo said, "Among Jeon Du-hwan's crimes, he was convicted of both rebellion and murder for the purpose of rebellion, making his regime the one with the least constitutional legitimacy among our governments, denying Article 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, which states that the Republic of Korea is a democratic republic," and pointed out, "Even if the economy did well thanks to the 'three lows boom' and other factors, this cannot be evaluated positively."

Yoo Seung-min, a presidential primary candidate of the People Power Party, visited the Korean Federation of Trade Unions in Yeouido, Seoul, on September 1, 2021, and held a meeting on labor issues with Kim Dong-myeong, chairman of the Korean Federation of Trade Unions. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Then Yoo asked again, "You mentioned a mock trial 40 years ago, but a mock trial is a play. Do you think the expression 'except for May 18' is appropriate?"

When Yoon responded, "My statement continues after that," Yoo asked, "Do you mean that he used people well?" Yoon replied, "To take care of the people's livelihood and create jobs for the youth, we must spare no means or methods, and any government should adopt good practices or policies wherever they are found."

Yoo then asked again, "What do you mean by 'did well'? You say the politics were good, but during Jeon Du-hwan's regime, the president suppressed human rights, opposition parties, and the press. How can you say the politics were good?"

Yoon said, "The politics I refer to means delegated politics, where the best experts are selected and entrusted," and added, "You should not distort my words like that after hearing everything I say." Yoo responded, "Candidate Yoon, you speak too carelessly and keep cutting off others during debates, saying they misunderstand you," and said, "The public sees everything, so do you really think you can just cut off parts of what is said?"