Yoon Suk-yeol's Release from Detention Not Unfavorable in Early Presidential Election
Impeachment Trial for Choi Jaehyung on the 13th Reflects Conservative Criticism
Former Democratic Party lawmaker Woo Sang-ho referred to President Yoon Suk-yeol's return to the presidential residence following the cancellation of his detention on the 12th as "the last picnic of his life."
Woo, who served as the floor leader of the Democratic Party during the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, said in a CBS radio interview that day, "President Yoon will obviously be dismissed and, even if the process proceeds while he is not detained, he will be punished for treason," adding, "There is a high possibility that he will be sentenced to life imprisonment and serve a considerably long term."
He also predicted that the cancellation of President Yoon's detention could create a favorable situation for the Democratic Party as the early presidential election phase begins. He analyzed, "If the next presidential election is held in a structure of the Democratic Party's presidential candidate versus Yoon Suk-yeol, the outcome can be predicted, right? The more President Yoon speaks and moves, 60 to 70 percent of the public will dislike him and vote for the Democratic Party candidate." He continued, "Logically, objectively, and reasonably, things that don't make sense are happening, but if you look at President Yoon's movements and Kim Keon-hee's activities from a political calculation perspective, it is not disadvantageous for the Democratic Party in the presidential election," adding, "Even the People Power Party must be judging that President Yoon's movements are disadvantageous."
Regarding the impeachment proposal against Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung raised within the Democratic Party, Woo expressed opposition. He said, "We should have immediately filed an appeal to hear the judgment of the higher courts and also sought a ruling from the Constitutional Court on whether it is unconstitutional," but added, "He should not be impeached." He urged, "Do we impeach just because there is a problem? Impeachment is done when there is an unconstitutional legal violation, but (Prosecutor General Shim) was just scheming. We need to be calm."
On the delay of the Constitutional Court's ruling beyond initial expectations, he explained, "The level of social conflict is too high, and there are quite a few overlapping issues that the Constitutional Court has to handle." He further analyzed the impeachment of figures like Audit Office Chief Choi Jae-hyung and other prosecutors happening first, saying, "There must have been legal and technical responses to the so-called conservative camp's attacks or criticisms about why only President Yoon's impeachment is being dealt with and the order of these proceedings."
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