Kim Soon-rye, Known for '5·18 and Sewol Ferry Controversies,' Runs for Sookmyung Women's University Alumni President... Alumni Oppose with Signature Campaign

As of 2 PM on the 31st of last month, 1,029 participants
Sookdae Alumni: "They didn't even disclose who the candidates are... The election process is undemocratic"

Former Future United Party lawmaker Kim Sun-rye is questioning Park Neung-hoo, Minister of Health and Welfare, at the Health and Welfare Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on February 20. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Former Future United Party lawmaker Kim Sunrye, who was criticized for her controversial remarks related to the May 18 Democratic Uprising and the Sewol ferry disaster, has drawn opposition from alumni after it was revealed that she is running unopposed for the position of president of the Sookmyung Women’s University Alumni Association. It is reported that the number of participants in the opposition petition surpassed 1,000 within three days.

According to the online petition titled "We oppose the inauguration of alumna Kim Sunrye, who tarnished the name of Sookmyung with her Sewol and May 18 remarks," which has been ongoing since the 29th, a total of 1,029 alumni had signed as of 2 p.m. the previous day.

The petition included a notice of surpassing 1,000 signatures along with the statement, "We will send faxes and emails to the alumni association as the first step. Further actions will be shared via email, etc."

The Sookmyung alumni stated in the petition, "We heard the shocking news that alumna Kim Sunrye, who was disciplined by the Korean Pharmaceutical Association for derogatory remarks such as 'corpse business' and 'beggar mentality' toward Sewol victims’ families and described May 18 merit recipients as a 'strange monster group,' is becoming the president of the alumni association," adding, "We cannot accept Kim Sunrye as our alumni president."

They continued, "She has already caused significant social controversy and failed to achieve her political ambitions because of it. Sookmyung Women’s University should not be used to maintain the social status of such an alumna."

They also pointed out, "There is no information on the Sookmyung alumni association website about when the election is or who the candidates are," emphasizing, "The process of electing the alumni president must be democratic, and we oppose the inauguration of Kim Sunrye, who is unqualified."

Furthermore, they urged the alumni association, "The election of the alumni president must be democratic. All alumni should be informed about the candidates and the election process and have the qualifications verified," and called for opposition to Kim Sunrye’s inauguration as alumni president.

Previously, Kim, while serving as vice president of the Korean Pharmaceutical Association in 2015, was suspended from duty for three months by the association for inappropriate remarks such as 'corpse business' and 'beggar mentality' toward the families of Sewol victims.

Kim entered the National Assembly in the 2016 general election as a proportional representative of the Liberty Korea Party (now Future United Party). In February last year, she caused controversy again by referring to May 18 merit recipients in the National Assembly as a "monster group that wastes taxes." She was excluded from the party’s nomination in this year’s general election.

Meanwhile, the alumni are reportedly planning to continue official protests, including visiting the school to voice their objections.

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