[Current Affairs Show] Park Wonseok: "The President Is Emerging as the Central Figure in the Local Election Landscape"

Min Junggi Special Prosecutor Case: Hard to Dismiss Intentionality or Deliberateness
Kang Hoonshik's Candidacy Gains Momentum After Daejeon?Chungnam Administrative Integration Proposal
Senior Lawmakers' Criticism of Jang Donghyuk Seen as an Ulti

■ Broadcast: The Asia Business Daily 'So Jongseop's Current Affairs Show' (Mon-Fri, 4-5 PM)

■ Host: Political Specialist So Jongseop ■ Director: Producer Lee Miri

■ Guest: Former Justice Party lawmaker Park Wonseok (December 19)

So Jongseop: The investigation into the 'Unification Church bribery allegations' is progressing rapidly. The former chief secretary to President Han Hakja has been questioned, and former Minister Jeon Jaesu has also been summoned for questioning. How do you assess the overall flow of the investigation and what do you expect going forward?

Park Wonseok: It seems they are conscious of the statute of limitations controversy, and since there are ongoing calls for a special prosecutor, the police appear to have a clear sense of purpose to produce investigative results. The key issue is that, aside from testimonies, there is still no clear physical evidence or additional circumstances. Except for the claims made by Yoon Youngho, former head of the Unification Church World Headquarters, no concrete evidence has been presented. Some additional circumstances have come to light, such as these individuals giving congratulatory speeches at events, the Unification Church purchasing books authored by these lawmakers, or visiting campaign offices to take photos together. These are additional circumstances, but they do not constitute direct evidence of bribery at this point.

So, they are likely analyzing the results of the recent searches and seizures to see if anything new has emerged, or whether any clues will be found from the two-day search at the Unification Church's Cheon Jeong Gung headquarters. While the investigation is proceeding quickly and the scope is expanding, I don't think any decisive evidence has surfaced yet. According to a Gallup poll, public opinion is strongly in favor of appointing a special prosecutor for this case. The public views the Unification Church's widespread lobbying of political circles as a very serious issue and seems to believe that a police investigation alone cannot guarantee the fairness of this probe. It's not just about speeding up the investigation; what really matters is the outcome.

So Jongseop: According to media reports, there was a special briefing by President Han in 2018 and the TM schedule in 2019, which refers to True Mother Han Hakja's schedule. Jeon Jaesu's name appears there, and the police have also identified a Bulgari watch. Isn't it possible that the police have secured various pieces of evidence beyond Yoon's testimony?
※ Click the video to watch the full content.

Jeon Jaesu Appears to Have Met President Han Hakja as Well, But No Evidence of Bribery Has Surfaced

Park Wonseok: It's hard to rule out. Based on news reports, it is clear that "Assemblyman Jeon Jaesu had frequent contact with the Unification Church." It seems he met with President Han Hakja as well. When he appeared today, he was asked about this but did not answer. Sending congratulatory messages or giving speeches at Unification Church events, taking photos with President Han Hakja's books-of course, Assemblyman Jeon Jaesu has offered his own explanations for these actions. For example, he says that during the election campaign, if someone visits your campaign office and asks for a photo, who would refuse? That is a reasonable point, as such things happen often. So, it's not that he had no contact at all with the Unification Church; there was considerable interaction. However, there is still no evidence showing that money or valuables were exchanged. The only thing that has come up is that "the Unification Church purchased 500 copies of his book." There is a record of this in the Unification Church's internal ledger, and it has been confirmed that the payment was made by former headquarters chief Yoon.

Jeon Jae-su, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea suspected of receiving money from the Unification Church, is appearing before the Special Investigation Team of the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 19th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

So Jongseop: There was also testimony from someone who saw the stack of books.

Park Wonseok: Assemblyman Jeon Jaesu claims it was a legitimate purchase made through the publisher, with a tax invoice issued, so he questions what the problem is. However, it could still be problematic. Purchasing books at publication events is somewhat of a gray area under the Political Funds Act. In fact, if the law were strictly applied, this could be an issue, but by convention, it has not been considered within the scope of the Political Funds Act. If investigators determine that the Unification Church purchased Assemblyman Jeon Jaesu's books in bulk for a specific purpose, it could be seen as bribery. The watch has not been found. Since it happened a long time ago, it is unlikely to be easily located, and Assemblyman Jeon Jaesu is denying all allegations, so it remains to be seen how much the investigation team can prove.The testimony of former headquarters chief Yoon, who could be considered the provider, is also wavering. At first, he said he gave it, then later said he only heard or saw it being given, and now he is even partially denying that.

So Jongseop: The statute of limitations is also a sensitive issue, isn't it?

Even Indictment Would Make Jeon Jaesu's Bid for Busan Mayor Unlikely

Park Wonseok: Based on the details in the warrant, it appears to be considered bribery. Beyond violating the Political Funds Act, it is seen as a request for the Korea-Japan undersea tunnel and the provision of a bribe in return. If the bribe amount is less than 30 million won, the statute of limitations under the Criminal Act is seven years, so not much time is left.If it exceeds 30 million won, the aggravated punishment for bribery applies, and the statute of limitations is 10 years. That is why the value of the Bulgari watch is so important.He has already resigned as Minister of Oceans and Fisheries and has suffered significant political damage, but whether he will be punished as a result of this case is the key issue. If it reaches the stage of prosecution, even just being indicted would make it realistically difficult for him to run for Busan mayor.

So Jongseop: The statute of limitations issue is ultimately tied to the Min Junggi special prosecutor case, isn't it?

Park Wonseok: That's why I don't understand the special prosecutor's actions. They obtained a confession from the suspect Yoon Youngho. They collected criminal information. But they investigated A (Kwon Seongdong) based on criminal information, while B (Jeon Jaesu) was left out of the investigation, even though they received information on both at the same time. Even if I concede that point, they should have immediately transferred the case. Instead, they sat on it for four months and only assigned a case number and transferred it after the media started reporting. It is hard to believe this was not intentional. That's why there are allegations of abuse of authority and dereliction of duty, and the case has now been transferred to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). The concern is whether the CIO will conduct a proper investigation. So far, the CIO has barely prosecuted any cases after investigation.

So Jongseop: President Lee Jaemyung has raised the issue of administrative unification of Daejeon and Chungnam. This will inevitably affect next year's local elections.

After Daejeon-Chungnam Administrative Unification Proposal, 'Kang Hoonshik Candidacy Theory' Gains Momentum

Park Wonseok: There is no disagreement between the ruling and opposition parties. In fact, as you mentioned, the opposition has been more proactive on this issue.The bill has already been proposed. Daejeon Mayor Lee Jangwoo and Chungnam Governor Kim Taeheum have declared their intention to proceed regardless of whether the bill passes the National Assembly. On top of that, the President has added another step, suggesting that before next year's local elections, a special mayor for the unified Daejeon-Chungnam region be elected. I view this positively.

However, some say the President proposed this for political reasons ahead of next year's local elections. Thus, there is speculation that Kang Hoonshik, the chief of staff, is at the center of a new local election strategy for the Daejeon-Chungnam region. I think such interpretations are possible, and the ruling party is not denying it. In that sense, there may be such an intention.The opposition will inevitably feel a sense of urgency.They will have to reconsider their strategy, and there may be talk within the People Power Party about the need for alternatives beyond Kim Taeheum and Lee Jangwoo.

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs briefing held on the 18th in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

So Jongseop: President Lee Jaemyung appears to be taking direct control of the election landscape ahead of next year's local elections. What do you think?

Park Wonseok: That trend is evident. Especially through formats like work briefings, the President is naturally appearing to take an active role in the local elections. Not long ago, he mentioned health insurance coverage for hair loss, which was one of his campaign pledges. After taking office, there had been no action on that, but he raised it again during a work briefing, which some interpret as election-conscious. There are many more work briefings to come, and I believe the President could use these to take the lead on election issues and policies.

The President could use work briefings or town hall meetings to promote or sideline certain candidates. Of course, if it becomes too overt, there could be significant backlash. Within the party, some may argue that he is interfering too much, and that the party should compete independently. If the President takes control too early, it could stifle competition, which would be a side effect. However, President Lee Jaemyung is not someone who lacks a sense of balance.So, the President is naturally emerging as the central figure in the local election arena. The opposition should be very nervous. Moreover, the opposition is currently in poor shape. If the President rolls up his sleeves and gets involved, it will be even tougher for them.

So Jongseop: Former leader Han Donghun and former candidate Kim Moonsu made headlines by sharing a toast at a gathering.

Kim Moonsu-Han Donghun Toast May Have Limited Real Impact, But Likely Boosted Han's Morale

Park Wonseok: When asked, they said they didn't know the other would attend. During the last presidential election, former Minister Kim Moonsu and former leader Han Donghun fiercely competed in the runoff. However, it appears there are not many lingering hard feelings, especially on Kim Moonsu's side. Minister Kim is known for his straightforward personality,and he believes that for the party to thrive, it needs diverse and competitive future politicians. He is quite negative about efforts to exclude such figures from the party.

But will this have a real impact? Kim Moonsu has no sitting lawmakers in his camp. The last party convention was held without any incumbent lawmakers on his side. While he still has some influence among party members, sitting lawmakers are crucial, so his influence is considered very limited. Nevertheless, this meeting likely provided psychological comfort and support to Han Donghun.

The gathering included both former and current local party chapter heads, with many from Kim Moonsu's side.This could be an opportunity to change the relationship between them and Han Donghun. There's nothing negative about that. Some are saying this could form an alliance to undermine the Jang Donghyuk leadership, but that seems like an exaggerated interpretation.

So Jongseop: There is still controversy in the People Power Party over the so-called 'party bulletin board issue.'

Jang Donghyuk Cuts Off Opportunities for the Opposition to Gain the Upper Hand

Park Wonseok: The problem lies with leader Jang Donghyuk. If you look at the grounds for disciplining former Supreme Council member Kim Jonghyuk, isn't it odd that you can't even criticize in a democratic party? The opposition has had opportunities to take the initiative due to various ruling party setbacks, but Jang Donghyuk has been cutting off those opportunities one by one.

Isn't that so? In the past, after visiting Yoon Sukyeol, the opposition's real estate policies and other negative issues were overshadowed, and the visit to Yoon became the main issue. More recently, the decision not to appeal the Daejang-dong case was poorly handled, making Han Donghun appear more prominent, and the Unification Church special prosecutor issue has been diluted by Kim Jonghyuk's disciplinary action.

So, some say that the real internal strife is being caused by Jang Donghyuk himself. The rationale for the disciplinary action is weak, and as for the party bulletin board, while it's a bit petty that Han Donghun's family posted there, that's in the past. The posts were directed at Yoon Sukyeol and Kim Keonhee, but it's hard to see that as a serious violation. What is the point of bringing it up now? Is there any evidence that Han Donghun instructed it?If this disciplinary action is taken to court, it is likely to be overturned. Jang Donghyuk is moving in a direction opposite to the demands within the party.

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 22nd. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

So Jongseop: Recently, even senior lawmakers from the Yeongnam region have been voicing criticism.

Senior Lawmakers' Criticism Should Be Seen as an Ultimatum

Park Wonseok: I see it as an ultimatum.They are saying they will not stand by any longer. This shows how seriously they perceive public opinion. But why is it that only Jang Donghyuk seems unaware? 'One internal enemy is more frightening than fifty external enemies.' That is what matters most now, as their language shows.

It's a complete misstep. If this continues, they won't be able to break through the current political situation.

So Jongseop: What do you think about the political moves and choices of former leader Han Donghun and former leader Lee Junseok?

Park Wonseok: Former leader Han Donghun must be frustrated. He is likely taking a longer-term view of his political future. He is leaving open the possibility of running in the local by-elections, but would it be easy to get a nomination under the current Jang Donghyuk leadership? If that system collapses and dramatic changes occur, opportunities may open up, but otherwise, it will be difficult. Both Han Donghun and his allies seem to be taking a long-term approach. The Reform New Party probably won't be too ambitious. Their realistic goal appears to be achieving some results in local council elections with three- or four-member districts.