Statements Made on Variety Shows During the 2021 Presidential Candidates Period
The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit attempted to execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol on the 3rd but halted the operation, drawing renewed attention to the president's past statement, "I will never hide in front of the people."
On the same day, photos capturing President Yoon's appearance on the SBS variety show 'Master in the House' on September 19, 2021, were shared on social media platforms and online communities.
At the time, then-presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol confidently raised two fingers in response to the question, "What are the things you absolutely will not do if you become president?" saying "Two things."
He promised, "First, I will never eat lunch or dinner alone. Sharing a meal is the foundation of communication. I will always have lunch and dinner with opposition figures, journalists, citizens who need encouragement. If necessary, I will even eat two meals a day with various people to communicate."
He continued, "Second, I will never hide in front of the people. No matter what happens, whether I have done well or poorly, I will always face the people. I will neither eat alone nor hide," he emphasized.
When other cast members mentioned the investigative achievements related to former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, President Yoon said, "It is much more reassuring to be on the side of the law rather than the side of power." He added, "If those in power who break the law are not properly dealt with, we cannot tell the people to obey the law, and society will fall into chaos."
He further stated, "How the prosecution handles cases involving powerful people according to principles determines how the people view the prosecution. We must absolutely follow the principles. There is no room for choice," he stressed.
Netizens criticized these remarks as being far from the current situation, where President Yoon is accused of leading the December 3rd insurrection and is refusing law enforcement. Regarding his past statement, "I will never hide in front of the people," some pointed out that he is "hiding behind a minority of supporters, not in front of the majority of the people." Comments on the video included, "If there were a hide-and-seek competition, he would be number one in the world," and "Please play this show in front of the presidential residence."
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