The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    BTS stars shine brighter as solo artists

  • 3

    N. Korea holds politburo meeting to discuss Kim-Putin summit: KCNA

  • 5

    30 people purchased 8,000 homes: data

  • 7

    Rowoon leaves SF9 to focus on acting career

  • 9

    Korea urged to adopt China exit strategy amid hegemonic war

  • 11

    Netflix's 'Song of the Bandits' blends western action with Korean period series

  • 13

    Foreign ministry asks Japan to investigate case of Korean poisoned with bleach in Tokyo

  • 15

    BTS defies K-pop's 'seven-year curse'

  • 17

    National Assembly passes motion to arrest DPK chief

  • 19

    Seoul plans to build Jamsil Sports MICE Complex

  • 2

    '30 Days' promises laughter, unlikely romance

  • 4

    North Korean escapees tell how nuclear tests ruined their health, hometown

  • 6

    ITZY's Lia takes break to put mental health first

  • 8

    USFK soldier, 2 women arrested for drug trafficking

  • 10

    Seventeen to drop 11th EP next month

  • 12

    INTERVIEWPutin uses summit with NK leader to stop Seoul from helping Ukraine: expert

  • 14

    Lamborghini driver suspect sent to prosecutors over parking dispute in Gangnam

  • 16

    Unfreezing of funds not likely to restore Korea-Iran ties

  • 18

    Merck emphasizes digitalization in semiconductor market

  • 20

    BTS member Suga begins mandatory military service

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Fri, September 22, 2023 | 20:34
Politics
Corruption probes: Yoon dismisses accusations of political vendetta
Posted : 2022-06-17 16:40
Updated : 2022-06-18 16:09
Jung Min-ho
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks to reporters as he enters his office in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks to reporters as he enters his office in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

By Jung Min-ho

President Yoon Suk-yeol reaffirmed his commitment to cracking down on corruption and dismissed accusations that the investigations targeting opposition heavyweights and former government officials are politically motivated.

Asked about investigations into high-profile politicians of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), Yoon told reporters Friday that they are nothing more than the normal operation of the country's justice system and stressed that it is improper to politicize the issue.

"After a change of government, there have been investigations into allegations brought up in the past, because what will happen cannot be the subject of investigation," Yoon said in comments aimed at those claiming that the ongoing probes are a form of political retaliation. "Wasn't it the same case during the previous DPK administration?"

Baek Woon-gyu, who served as the minister of trade, industry and energy under the Moon Jae-in administration, is being investigated for allegedly forcing 13 chiefs of public agencies under the ministry to resign after Moon took office in May 2017. Rep. Park Sang-hyuk, who worked as a high-ranking official at Moon's presidential office (2017-19), is suspected of being an accomplice.

Recently, prosecutors also questioned the former minister and vice minister of gender equality ― Chung Young-ai and Kim Kyung-seon ― over allegations that they were involved in drafting campaign pledges for former DPK presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, who lost to Yoon in the March 9 election.

Lee, who served mayor of Seongnam (2010-18) before being elected as a lawmaker in Incheon, is embroiled in several allegations, including embezzling taxes and giving favors to certain property developers, during his eight-year term.

The DPK is calling the moves by police and prosecutors a political vendetta by the Yoon administration.

"The Yoon administration should stop the coordinated investigations for political revenge," Rep. Woo Sang-ho, the DPK's interim leader, said during a meeting at the National Assembly. "The investigation of Rep. Park will inevitably lead to the top decision makers of the Moon administration. Lee, too, appears to have become their target because he is one of the potential contenders for the next presidency."

Rep. Park Hong-keun, the party's floor leader, said such investigations could divide the nation, which should be unified at a time when many people are suffering under worsening economic conditions.

The two lawmakers said the party will launch a committee next week to respond to such investigations more effectively. But it remains to be seen if their arguments will resonate convincingly with the public.

The previous administration shrugged off similar criticisms under the premise of eradicating deep-rooted "evils" and corruption, calling for investigations targeting two former presidents ― Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak. Eventually, the two ex-presidents and more than 200 others, mostly high-ranking government officials, were arrested. Lee is still in prison.

President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks to reporters as he enters his office in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
In this March 6, 2019, file photo, former President Lee Myung-bak walks into Seoul High Court in southern Seoul to attend a hearing. Lee was eventually sentenced to 17 years in prison after being indicted on multiple corruption charges as a result of the Moon Jae-in administration's anti-corruption campaigns targeting conservative politicians and former government officials. Lee is still in prison. Yonhap

The ruling party assailed the DPK for comparing the investigations to a vendetta.

Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, floor leader of the ruling People Power Party, said upholding the rule of law should not be branded as a form of political retaliation.

"At the beginning of the Moon administration, each ministry launched a committee to fight 'deep-rooted evils,' then it searched computer data and revealed it to the press … It led to a sweeping investigation of conservative former government officials … That was political revenge, but the current investigations are not," Kweon told reporters.

He argued that the ongoing investigations began after corruption accusations were brought up during the Moon administration, which he said should have handled them earlier.

Such sentiment appears to be shared by key officials of the Yoon administration.

Han Dong-hoon, minister of justice and former senior prosecutor, reasserted his will Thursday to fight corruption, saying "no one is above the law."

"Prosecutors and police officers are paid by taxpayers to investigate corruption," he said. "The public wouldn't be convinced that investigations of such serious crimes are acts of political revenge."


Emailmj6c2@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
Top 10 Stories
130 people purchased 8,000 homes: data 30 people purchased 8,000 homes: data
2National Assembly passes motion to arrest DPK chiefNational Assembly passes motion to arrest DPK chief
3Gender equality minister nominee in hot seat over remarks on abortion Gender equality minister nominee in hot seat over remarks on abortion
4Seoul invites ambassadors to introduce new halal foods in Korea Seoul invites ambassadors to introduce new halal foods in Korea
5Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors
6Scientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlightScientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlight
7S. Korea condemns Russia, seeks to mend ties with China S. Korea condemns Russia, seeks to mend ties with China
8COVID-19 deaths hit record high in Korea for 2022 COVID-19 deaths hit record high in Korea for 2022
9Honey-dipped cookie to represent 'K-desserts' at global food expo in Germany Honey-dipped cookie to represent 'K-desserts' at global food expo in Germany
10Rights experts from 17 countries demand release of North Korean escapees in China Rights experts from 17 countries demand release of North Korean escapees in China
Top 5 Entertainment News
1BTS defies K-pop's 'seven-year curse' BTS defies K-pop's 'seven-year curse'
2Aespa's VR concert to hit theaters Oct. 25 Aespa's VR concert to hit theaters Oct. 25
3Gang Dong-won becomes exorcist con artist in 'Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman' Gang Dong-won becomes exorcist con artist in 'Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman'
4BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo
5[INTERVIEW] Virtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels INTERVIEWVirtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group