Won Hee-ryong Severely Criticizes Former Lawmakers at Rally, Saying They Seem Starved for Applause

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju Province, fiercely criticized former United Future Party lawmakers who attended the Liberation Day rally, calling them "people starving for applause" and saying, "Their psychological state needs to be examined."

On the morning of the 21st, in a phone interview with KBS Radio's 'Kim Kyung-rae's Strongest Current Affairs,' Governor Won said, "Regardless of the party, it seems they want to be noticed by the media even a little," criticizing them in this way.

He added, "Such actions rather become obstacles to the country moving in the right direction and to the party gathering public support," and said, "If it were that bad, even their families would have tried to stop them and reported them. It was unfortunate."

Governor Won also sharply criticized Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, who led the rally, and Sarang Jeil Church, saying, "If there is love for the people, protecting the safety and lives of those you love is love. What kind of love is this?"

He said, "I strongly demanded that church gatherings and rallies at Gwanghwamun be voluntarily restrained and that authorities ban them," adding, "So many people are fighting COVID-19 with their lives on the line, so what are they doing? This situation has ultimately occurred." He further explained, "In Jeju Province, we tested all the names notified by the Central Disease Control Headquarters and issued administrative orders to get tested. From today, as the incubation period passes, symptoms may start to appear, so we are preparing with vigilance."

However, Governor Won drew a clear line between the United Future Party and the Liberation Day rally. He said, "It was not a rally organized by the party, nor did the party ask anyone to attend, so engaging in a blame game is a political offensive," and urged, "Instead, any responsible party concerned about the lives and safety of the people should show responsible messages and actions."

Regarding the controversy over his direct criticism of Kim Won-woong, Chairman of the Liberation Association, during the Liberation Day ceremony, Governor Won emphasized, "I am not against the liquidation of pro-Japanese collaborators."

He pointed out, "Since it is a Liberation Day event, it is understandable for the Liberation Association chairman to speak strongly, but the problem lies in applying a one-sided standard and violently dividing the people," and criticized, "Claiming that all former Army Chiefs of Staff were pro-Japanese collaborators is not true." Governor Won explained, "It is true that General Baek Seon-yeop served in the Manchukuo Army, but he risked his life to protect the Republic of Korea during the Korean War. People like Kim Won-bong may have been involved in the independence movement during the Japanese occupation, but ultimately, they were the main culprits of the Korean War by participating in the North Korean regime. We should look at both merits and demerits."

He added, "Clinging to the past and deciding everything based on it shows that people who have no ability or ideas to solve current problems only talk about the past, saying 'this is how it was back then,'" and criticized, "Both Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon and Chairman Kim Won-woong are people who have no qualifications to discuss the nation in public positions."

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