Eonju Lee: "Jin Joong-kwon, Honestly I Didn't Like Him... But a Conscientious Progressive"

Independent lawmaker Lee Eon-ju evaluated former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon on the 6th as a "normal progressive" and described him as a "conscientious and sensible intellectual." Photo by Yonhap News

Photo by Lee Eon-ju, Independent Assembly Member, Facebook capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Suwan] Independent lawmaker Lee Eonju on the 6th described former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon as a "normal progressive" and praised him as a "conscientious and sensible intellectual."

On that day, Lee posted on his Facebook, saying, "Honestly, I usually did not like Professor Jin Joong-kwon very much because he is excessively progressive and unrealistic, but I was genuinely surprised to see him say something I truly sympathize with."

He continued, "Watching the indictment of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk related to his daughter, I wondered how many students and parents in South Korea were enraged," adding, "Seeing Cho Kuk, President Moon, Yoo Si-min, and other ruling forces around them insist on their innocence based on facts while resenting and illogically criticizing those who criticize them made me fear that this country is not normal."

In particular, Lee raised his voice, saying, "I was horrified to see them eventually target the prosecution and call for prosecutorial reform."

He also said, "Watching the Democratic Party forces who shower him (former Professor Jin) with critical comments and the conservative forces who sympathize with him, I feel frustrated that our society has not escaped the level of factionalism and brawling," adding, "Why do we divide into Democratic Party side, Korean Party side, even pro-Moon and anti-Moon, pro-Park and anti-Park, and so on? And all centered around certain groups or people. Honestly, do our political parties have any clear values?"

He further criticized, "Are you saying that the current Moon Jae-in administration and Korean progressive forces do not uphold our constitutional spirit of protecting the independence of the prosecution, judiciary, and president from power?that is, the spirit of modern liberal democracy?" He asked, "Is it okay for ruling party presidential candidates like Cho Kuk to have someone else take their daughter's exam? Is it okay to forge certificates? And is it okay for the president and the Minister of Justice to pressure the prosecution investigating their close associates? Is that the spirit of progressivism you talk about?"

Finally, Lee said, "Besides former Professor Jin, many awakened progressives who suffer from the voice of conscience but cannot speak openly, and awakened conservatives who reflect on the past through trials and contemplate how to achieve true liberal democracy and checks and limits on power, are emerging," adding, "I hope the day will come when, despite our different lines, both sides can have at least a minimum consensus and become leading forces to develop the Republic of Korea."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.