Ruling and opposition parties gathered at Gwangju Democratic Cemetery... United Future Party apologizes for offensive remarks and distances itself from 'far-right' stance

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The leadership of both ruling and opposition parties gathered in Gwangju to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising. After attending the May 18 memorial ceremony, they paid respects at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery to honor the victims. Notably, the United Future Party approached the event with a humble attitude, apologizing on behalf of the party for past controversial remarks about May 18.

On the morning of the 18th, Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party, Joo Ho-young, acting leader and floor leader of the United Future Party, and Sim Sang-jung, leader of the Justice Party, attended the memorial ceremony held at the May 18 Democratic Square in Geumnam-ro.

Following the ceremony, the Democratic Party leadership held an on-site supreme council meeting at Jeonil Building 245, where the helicopter gunfire marks from the martial law troops are preserved in their original form, and then visited the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery together with all the elected members of the 21st National Assembly. About 30 first-term elected members visited the Sewol ferry at Mokpo New Port before the on-site supreme council meeting.

The United Future Party leadership also paid respects at the May 18 Democratic Cemetery after attending the memorial ceremony. This visit to Gwangju was the first on-site activity since Joo Ho-young assumed the floor leader position, and prior to the visit, he apologized for the past controversial remarks about May 18. In an official statement on the 16th, Joo said, "Our party has never belittled or taken lightly the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising at any moment," adding, "There have been unrefined remarks within the party that belittled and insulted the May 18 Democratic Uprising. We sincerely apologize to the victims, their families, and all the people who were hurt."

Member of Parliament Yoo Seung-min also visited the Democratic Cemetery the day before and apologized, saying, "There were instances of distortion, disparagement, and belittlement of the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising within the Liberty Korea Party, the predecessor of the United Future Party. It is truly regrettable that the party did not take firm action against such matters."

The Future Korea Party, a satellite party of the United Future Party, was not invited to the memorial ceremony but visited the Democratic Cemetery as a party. Won Yoo-chul, leader of the Korea Party, who paid respects at the cemetery with the elected members, wrote in the guestbook, "We visited Gwangju to honor the noble spirit of the citizens of Gwangju embodied in the May 18 Democratic Uprising and to comfort their precious sacrifices and the pain of their bereaved families," adding, "We will inherit and commemorate the May 18 Gwangju democratic spirit."

The attendance of conservative opposition parties such as the United Future Party and the Korea Party at the May 18 events, delivering messages of reflection, is interpreted as a move to break away from the far-right image, which was pointed out as one of the reasons for their defeat in the general election. At a seminar hosted by lawmaker Oh Shin-hwan on the 15th, former Dongyang University professor Jin Jung-kwon criticized the United Future Party, saying it "has become fanatical, connected with conservative YouTubers."

Regarding the 'election manipulation theory' raised mainly by some lawmakers and conservative YouTubers, the leadership has concluded that there is "no basis" for such claims. However, lawmaker Min Kyung-wook continued to raise suspicions on Facebook that day, stating, "I recently spoke on the phone with former leader Hwang Kyo-ahn. He did not tell me not to report election fraud," and added, "People inside the party are shooting behind the backs of those trying to uncover election fraud."

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