Jin Joong-kwon Criticizes Park Won-seok: "Different Views Means Taegukgi Brigade? Bad Habit"

Jin Joong-kwon, former professor at Dongyang University / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon criticized Park Won-seok, chairman of the Justice Party Policy Committee, who said "It would be right to hold anti-government protests with the Taegeukgi flag," by saying, "They have a bad habit of labeling anyone with differing views as the 'Taegeukgi Unit'."

On the 4th, Jin posted on his Facebook under the title "The Violence of the Justice Party," stating, "Chairman Park told Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol to 'hold rallies with the Taegeukgi flag.' Between the 'Jogukgi Unit' (supporters of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk) and the Taegeukgi Unit, there are people who refuse to belong to either camp," he said.

He added, "If you don't wave the Jogukgi, should you wave the Taegeukgi? I can't believe such a barbaric and violent rhetoric came from a politician belonging to a progressive party," and questioned, "Is the standard of 'justice' that the Justice Party talks about the family of former Minister Cho?"

He continued, "With the National Assembly reduced to a rubber stamp, the Prosecutor General and the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection under attack by power, and the country's system collapsing, the opposition party is not thinking of checks and balances but acting as a henchman beside the power. They should be ashamed," and criticized, "If that's the case, why not just join the Democratic Party? Why loiter outside? I don't understand."

He further emphasized, "Progressive parties have no hope unless they purge the rotten 586 generation. Progressives must become younger," and said, "It's time to put an end to the situation where progressive parties only watch power and cater to vested interests, picking up the crumbs they throw. Progressive parties must rise again from where that fifty-something generation has stranded and boldly and clearly take the path of 'progressivism.'"

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is speaking at the new prosecutors' registration ceremony held at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 3rd. Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier that day, Chairman Park shared an article titled 'Yoon Seok-yeol brings up "dictatorship," Jin Joong-kwon says "Wow, strong, all their problems are contained"' on his Facebook, stating, "Democracy is a system where the sovereign people elect representatives to whom they delegate power, and the representatives exercise the delegated authority."

He continued, "Unless there was fundamental fraud in the election process or anti-democratic force and coercion were involved, the democratic legitimacy of the elected power is maintained," and pointed out, "If the governing behavior of the elected power is undemocratic, it can be criticized as arbitrary or unilateral rule, but labeling it as dictatorship is absurd."

He added, "Although the Park Geun-hye administration was impeached according to the constitution, criticisms of that administration were about arbitrariness, lack of communication, and state affairs manipulation, not dictatorship," and said, "Because we have a history of dictatorship stained by rigged elections and state violence, such labels should not be carelessly applied."

Chairman Park emphasized, "Yoon's remarks, emphasizing constitutional spirit and the rule of law, are common-sense and not problematic," but added, "However, given the recent political situation and his own position, it was highly inappropriate to engage in such political behavior."

He added, "It is absurd for a public official enforcing the law to talk about dictatorship regarding elected power with no problem of democratic legitimacy," and said, "If he holds such thoughts, he should resign and become an opposition politician or hold the Taegeukgi flag and engage in anti-government protests."

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