Song Eonseok Calls Special Prosecutor's Search of Yoon Sanghyun "Classic Political Retaliation"

"Abuse of Illegal Power Against the Opposition...
Political Retaliation Must Be Stopped"

Song Eonseok, interim leader and floor leader of the People Power Party, on July 8 described the search and seizure of lawmaker Yoon Sanghyun's home and office by Special Prosecutor Min Jungki's team, which is investigating allegations related to former President Yoon Sukyeol's wife Kim Keonhee, as "a classic case of political retaliation."

Speaking to reporters at the National Assembly that day, Song said, "As far as I know, the police have already completed a thorough investigation into this matter, but they are pushing ahead with another search and seizure," expressing his views on the situation.

Yonhap News Agency

Song also criticized the special prosecutor's recent decision to impose a travel ban on lawmaker Kim Seongyo, saying, "If requesting the establishment of the Yangpyeong Interchange (IC) is grounds for a travel ban, then other lawmakers from the Democratic Party should also be subject to travel bans." He emphasized, "Excessive investigations must be prohibited."

He continued, "They talk about cooperation, but in practice, they are abusing illegal power against the opposition," and added, "The ruling party and the government should keep in mind that the consequences of such actions could eventually come back to them."

Kwak Gyutaek, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, commented on the Democratic Party's proposal of a special insurrection law to block state subsidies to political parties convicted of insurrection, saying, "This is how oppression of the opposition begins," and added, "They talk about cooperation, but in reality, it feels far from true cooperation."

When asked whether the party is preparing for the special prosecutor's investigation, he replied, "There is nothing definite to say at this point; we are still reviewing the situation."