Popular Former Prosecutor In S. Korea Launches Presidential Bid

South Korea’s former top prosecutor has launched a bid to run in next year’s presidential election, vowing to unseat the current liberal government that he once worked for.

Yoon Suk Yeol is topping surveys on the South Korean public’s preferred future leader, and his announcement will likely heat up the race to find a successor for President Moon Jae-in.

Addressing a News conferemce, Yoon said he was stepping forward with a determination to change the government, and will join forces with everyone yearning for a shift in power and achieve that surely.

Yoon, who resigned as prosecutor-general in March, had led Moon’s push to root out corruption. But their ties soured as some of Moon’s political allies were investigated over corruption and other charges.

Moon’s supporters have accused Yoon of using the investigations to boost his political standing or thwart Moon’s prosecution reforms. Yoon has said the investigations were conducted in line with due procedures and principles.

During Tuesday’s news conference, Yoon called the Moon government “corrupt,” “incompetent” and “arrogant,” stating he would restore constitutionalism and the principle of fairness that he says have been marred by the Moon government.

While the infighting invited public criticism that Moon’s anti-corruption campaign was only tough on his political opponents, it also helped Yoon emerge as a potential opposition candidate.

This is more so as the conservatives still have no clear standard-bearer to fight against Moon’s governing party in the presidential election set for next March.