President Lee's '38-year Friend' Jeong Seong-ho "Will Offer Candid Advice If Necessary"

[Financial News] Jeong Seong-ho, known as a 38-year friend of President Lee Jae-myung and a 'pro-Lee leader', stated, "I will offer candid advice if necessary and perform my duties fairly." Regarding the withdrawal of the prosecution in President Lee's trial, he avoided a direct response, saying, "It's difficult to answer."

According to the office of Ju Jin-woo, a member of the People Power Party, on the 14th, Jeong responded in writing to Representative Ju's inquiry about the potential conflict of interest between being a 38-year friend of President Lee Jae-myung and a pro-Lee leader and performing the duties of the Minister of Justice fairly.

Candidate Jeong was a classmate of President Lee at the Judicial Research and Training Institute (18th class) and has maintained a connection for about 38 years since March 1987. It is known that they became closer while participating in an organization called the Labor Law Society that year. In the 2017 presidential election, he served as the General Election Strategy Headquarters Chief, and in the 2022 presidential election, he was the General Special Advisor Team Leader, and this year he has been appointed as the Talent Committee Chairman directly under the candidate, taking on significant roles over a long period.

Candidate Jeong is also famous for being one of the few people who can offer candid advice to President Lee. He is known for not hesitating to give direct advice to the President, earning the nickname 'Mr. Candid Advice.'

First of all, Candidate Jeong expressed his intention to not hesitate to offer direct advice if he takes on the role of Minister of Justice. Candidate Jeong said, "As a member of the State Council, I will fundamentally assist the President faithfully and contribute to the President's state administration and government policy decisions," but also conveyed, "As before, I will offer candid advice if necessary and perform my duties fairly."

However, he was reserved about the withdrawal of the prosecution in President Lee's trial. Last month on the 25th, Candidate Jeong, during a lecture at the Songgang Forum, stated regarding President Lee's trial, "The sovereign people knew the trial was ongoing and chose the President. The withdrawal of the prosecution is correct." However, as the confirmation hearing scheduled for the 16th approaches, it seems he avoided a direct response to avoid controversy.

Candidate Jeong also reserved his words on questions about the necessity of pardoning former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk and former Gyeonggi Province Peace Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young, who some are demanding be pardoned, saying, "It is the President's exclusive authority," and "It's difficult to comment."

haeram@fnnews.com Lee Haeram Reporter