"An Min-seok's Defeat is the Goal"… Jeong Yura Announces Independent Candidacy in Osan, Gyeonggi

Jung Yura, the daughter of Choi Seo-won (formerly Choi Soon-sil), who is serving time for the 'state affairs manipulation' scandal during the Park Geun-hye administration, has declared her independent candidacy to defeat Ahn Min-seok, a five-term senior member of the Democratic Party of Korea. On the afternoon of the 15th, Jung posted on her Facebook, “I have no goal to complete the race; I just want to chase Ahn Min-seok and make sure he loses,” expressing her intention to run for the 22nd general election on April 10 in Osan, Gyeonggi Province.

Ms. Jeong Yura. [Photo by Yonhap News]

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She added, "My sole goal is to boldly ask Ahn Min-seok, 'Where did you put my 300 trillion won?' and to bring Yoon Ji-oh here," and stated, "The purpose is to prevent Ahn Min-seok from serving a sixth term." Furthermore, she explained, "I have no clear policies, so I will not complete the race," and "If I collect 15 million won by the 17th, which is the deposit deadline, I will register as a candidate and chase after Ahn Min-seok."

Jung emphasized, "I have no clear policies and know my limits, so completing the race will be difficult, and I have no goal to finish," adding, "My sole purpose is to make Ahn Min-seok's sixth term impossible." She also explained that the reason for running as an independent is "because I want to defeat Ahn Min-seok without harming other parties."

Previously, during the National Assembly hearing on the Park Geun-hye administration's state affairs manipulation, Ahn Min-seok questioned Choi Seo-won and Jung Yura regarding controversies over equestrian competition awards and the Mir and K-Sports foundations. He also accused them of hiding enormous slush funds, which provoked strong backlash from the mother and daughter.

Assemblyman An Min-seok questioning during last year's National Assembly audit
Photo by Yonhap News

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Later, in May 2022, Jung filed a police complaint against Ahn for defamation and insult by false facts. Ahn was indicted without detention in November last year. He is accused of making unverified statements during a 2016 radio appearance, such as "Choi Soon-sil's hidden assets in Germany amount to trillions of won, and there are hundreds of German paper companies used for money laundering," "Choi Soon-sil met with foreign defense industry executives to secure weapon contracts," and "Money from domestic company A, deposited in a Swiss secret account, is linked to Choi Soon-sil."

At that time, Ahn posted a statement on his Facebook, claiming, “The prosecution’s indictment is a political prosecution ahead of the general election.” He further argued, "Even though the civil lawsuit appeal filed by Choi on the same matter did not recognize defamation and ruled no liability for damages, indicting me for defamation four years after investigating statements made in a broadcast interview seven years ago is an unfair indictment and clear political persecution."

Meanwhile, Ahn Min-seok, the incumbent National Assembly member for Osan City, declared his candidacy for this general election, stating, "April 10 is the day the people judge the Yoon Seok-yeol administration," and "Ahn Min-seok of Osan, raised by Osan citizens, will become the vanguard of regime judgment alongside Lee Jae-myung."

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