Prosecutor general's influence rises in political circle

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl answers questions from reporters after arriving at Daejeon District Public Prosecutors' Office to hold a meeting with prosecutors there, Thursday. Yoon has become a leading prospect of the opposition bloc to run for the presidency according to recent polls on potential candidates. Yonhap

By Jung Da-min

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl has become a leading prospective candidate of the opposition for the 2022 presidential election, with his favorability rate rising and exceeding other potential contenders.

Some members of the opposition parties say Yoon's rise will help them get a fresh and strong presidential candidate. But others say Yoon's presence is disrupting the conservative bloc as other potential candidates are not receiving attention and are being overshadowed by him.

The legitimacy of Yoon's candidacy for the conservatives is also in question as he has led investigations into corruption scandals involving former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye.

According to a survey conducted on 1,032 adults by local pollster RnSearch from Oct. 25 to 26, Yoon had a support rate of 15.1 percent, behind two candidates of the ruling party ― Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung with 22.8 percent, and ruling Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Nak-yon with 21.6 percent.

Although he came in third, the support for Yoon is considerably higher than those for other prospective candidates of the opposition ― Rep. Hong Joon-pyo, former head of the Liberty Korea Party, a predecessor of the current main opposition People Power Party (PPP), who gained 6.8 percent, and Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the minor opposition People's Party, at 5.8 percent. The rates of many other potential contenders from the opposition bloc hover around or under 3 percent.

It is as yet to be seen if he will enter politics after his term as top prosecutor ends next July. But expectation is growing because Yoon, who had flatly denied the possibility of entering politics until last year, recently showed a changed stance. In the National Assembly audit of the prosecution in October, he said, “I will think about how I can serve the nation and the public after my term is over.” When asked if becoming a politician could be an option for him, Yoon did not deny the possibility but said, “It is difficult to answer.”

Political watchers said Yoon has become a strong presidential candidate following a series of clashes with the ruling bloc, especially with Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae who has been pushing ahead with prosecutorial reform, although he was appointed by the current President Moon Jae-in. Such conflicts have given a good impression of Yoon to supporters of the opposition, analysts said.

“In some cases, a presidential candidate is named by the side with power, but in other cases a candidate is created by his or her conflict with the existing power,” Park Heong-joon, a sociology professor at Dong-A University, said in a recent radio interview, saying Yoon's case is an example of the latter.

“I think Yoon has shown enough potential as a politician by standing out as a person who confronts the ruling bloc's attempt to control the prosecution, regardless of his intention.”

Some PPP lawmakers said Yoon's rising popularity would bring more potential conservative candidates forward.

Rep. Cho Hae-jin of the PPP said during a radio interview that Yoon's rise would bring about a “catfish effect.”

“Many people think that candidates of the opposition bloc are not being active, but if a catfish enters and churns around, it will stimulate and activate the conservative bloc,” Cho said.

But others cast doubt that Yoon would be the right candidate as he had led the investigations into the two former conservative presidents.

“It is comedy to call Yoon, who served the Moon government to make these irrational indictments (against former Presidents Lee and Park), the opposition presidential candidate,” Rep. Hong said.