Rival parties pay close attention to impact of Yoon’s wife’s phone calls

Jan 17, 2022, 08:15 am

		0
Kim Keon-hee, the wide of People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol, speaks during a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Seoul on Dec. 26, 2021./ Source: AsiaToday Database

AsiaToday reporter Kim Na-ri

Some parts of phone calls between the main opposition presidential candidate’s wife and a reporter have been broadcasted Sunday, emerging as a new issue in the presidential race. Both the ruling and the main opposition parties are paying close attention to the impact it will have on the race.

Many say that there was no ‘decisive one’ in the recordings that could change the current presidential election structure. However, as the rival parties are expected to continue a fierce battle over the recordings.

Regarding this, some point out that the practice of bringing personal issues into questions or besmearing candidate’s spouse rather than taking issues with candidates’ policies or pledges is a problem.

The January 16th episode of MBC’s current affairs program ‘Straight’ broadcasted parts of phone conversations between Kim Keon-hee and a staff member of the YouTube channel Voice of Seoul. Previously, the main opposition People Power Party sought an injunction to stop the local TV station from broadcasting the recordings. On the 14th, the Seoul Western District Court decided to allow MBC to broadcast some parts of the phone calls while other parts will be banned. Therefore, MBC was able to broadcast Kim’s political and social views, but it excluded conversations that were related to investigation-related matters.

On the same day, the ruling Democratic Party’s presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung remained silent over the issue ahead of the broadcast.

“I have no special opinion,” Lee told reporters. Candidate Yoon met with reporters right after attending the launching ceremony of the Seoul Election Countermeasures Committee and said, “I don’t know anything about the matter, so I have nothing to say.”

However, Lee Yang-soo, the PPP campaign chief spokesperson, said, “Conversations induced by someone with evil intentions cannot be viewed normally. It is terrible that somebody secretly recorded and distributed dozens of phone conversations by lying for six months.”

There was no special thing in Kim’s phone conversations that shook the presidential race, but many political observers say the tug of war between the rival parties will continue to intensify.

#Kim Keon-hee #recording #straight #Yoon Suk-yeol