Former President Moon Jae-in stated, “At the time of appointing the Prosecutor General, both Cho Kuk, the Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs, and I were focused on prosecutorial reform. That’s why we chose Yoon Seok-yeol as the candidate, but that moment has been a source of regret,” he revealed.
In an interview with Hankyoreh on the 10th, former President Moon addressed the criticism that he essentially supported the rise of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, saying, “I feel the greatest responsibility.” Former President Moon explained, “Back then, Cho Kuk, the Candidate Recommendation Committee for the Prosecutor General, and I narrowed down the candidates to four. Cho Kuk conducted interviews with all four. Yoon Seok-yeol was the only one among them who expressed support for prosecutorial reform, while the other three opposed it.”
Moon further stated, “Yoon Seok-yeol might have been somewhat challenging to communicate with, but his commitment to prosecutorial reform was positive. In hindsight, I wonder if it would have been more reasonable to choose someone with whom Cho Kuk had better communication and relationship.”
Regarding former Minister Cho Kuk, Moon remarked, “As a result, Cho Kuk’s family was severely impacted, which is ironically human. Cho Kuk was the most supportive when Yoon Seok-yeol was appointed as the chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, and he stood by him when he was appointed as Prosecutor General. Yet, ironically, Cho Kuk experienced those circumstances under Yoon Seok-yeol’s tenure.”
Reflecting on the last presidential election, Moon said, “Initially, we considered it a relatively easy match, but it turned into a contested campaign driven by mutual disfavor, and we couldn’t escape that frame, which led to our loss. I take the most responsibility for the birth of the Yoon Seok-yeol government, and people from our administration (Moon Jae-in’s government) are not free from it either. I apologize to the people.”
He also left a message for Lee Jae-myung, head of the Democratic Party. “For the Democratic Party to win, it must show more inclusivity and expansion,” he said. “Isn’t there no competitor for Lee Jae-myung within the party? Precisely because of that, the party must expand further. I told Lee Jae-myung (when he visited during the Lunar New Year holiday) that as well.”