[Comprehensive] Dividing and Taking Sides Leading to Ideological Debates... Moon Administration's 'Division' Controversy

President Moon "We even have to bear the burden of striking doctors" Praises Nurses' Hard Work
Possible Criticism of Striking Doctors...Doctors and Nurses Accused of 'Dividing Factions'
Controversy Over Anti-Japan Sentiment During Past Japanese Economic Measures
Memorial Day Address, Remarks on COVID-19 Related Regional Lockdowns
Rental Laws and Other Issues Spark 'Division' and 'Ideological Debate'

President Moon Jae-in is presiding over a senior secretaries and aides meeting at the Blue House on the 31st of last month. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Amid ongoing strikes in the medical sector, President Moon Jae-in's Facebook message supporting nurses has sparked major controversy. Critics argue that by ignoring the voices of striking doctors and only praising and encouraging nurses, the message ultimately caused division and fostered a rift between doctors and nurses.

The opposition party immediately criticized it as "dividing the people." Some pointed out that during socially sensitive controversies, the Moon administration has been particularly prone to "creating divisions."

Past incidents include controversies over anti-Japanese sentiment during Japan's economic measures, President Moon's Memorial Day address, remarks on regional lockdowns related to COVID-19, and the three lease laws, all of which were embroiled in "division," "splitting," and "ideological disputes."

On July 4 last year, when the Japanese government unilaterally imposed export restrictions on semiconductor materials, former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was then the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Blue House, introduced the song "Jukchangga," based on the Donghak Peasant Revolution, on his Facebook page on the night of July 13.

Cho wrote, "While watching the final episode of the drama , this long-forgotten song played as background music." The fact that Cho introduced a song inspired by the late Joseon period people's fight against Japan attracted attention.

Regarding criticism that "our government's response also had problems," he wrote, "The important thing is not 'progressive or conservative,' or 'left or right,' but 'patriotic or traitorous.'"

Earlier, on July 12, President Moon visited Muan, Jeollanam-do, and during the "Blue Economy Vision Proclamation Ceremony," he said, without it being in the prepared script, "The residents of Jeollanam-do, along with Admiral Yi Sun-sin, defended the country with only twelve ships." During his regional economic tour, President Moon introduced Jeollanam-do as "a place imbued with the patriotic spirit of Admiral Yi Sun-sin."

Subsequently, President Moon's remarks about Admiral Yi Sun-sin and former Minister Cho's "Jukchangga" sparked controversy over whether they incited anti-Japanese sentiment.

Meanwhile, in June of the same year, political disputes arose over President Moon's mention of Kim Won-bong during his Memorial Day address, stating that he "became the root of the establishment of the National Army after liberation." This was the so-called "ideological division" debate.

The Liberty Korea Party (now People Power Party) demanded an apology, calling it an inappropriate remark at a ceremony honoring the sacrifices of the Korean War dead, and criticized the president for fostering division.

Na Kyung-won, then floor leader, pointed out, "It feels like an attempt to provoke anger and criticism from the opposition with remarks that the conservative right cannot accept, to keep politics a battleground."

In response, former Democratic Party floor leader Lee In-young retorted, "I hope they reflect on whether this was a message toward national and social unity, or if the Korean Party is forcibly creating wounds and turning it into a message of division," arguing that the conservative camp was the one engaging in ideological division.

Lee In-young, then floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (from the right), Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister for Economy, Lee Hae-chan, former party leader, Noh Hyung-wook, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, and Lee Nak-yeon, former chair of the COVID-19 Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Committee, are entering the COVID-19 response high-level party-government consultation meeting held at the Democratic Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on February 25, wearing masks with serious expressions. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Also, in February, during the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis, a major controversy arose when the ruling party made remarks about regional lockdowns. At the time, Democratic Party senior spokesperson Hong Ik-pyo stated, "We have decided to implement the strictest lockdown measures beyond usual quarantine steps in Daegu and Cheongdo, Gyeongbuk," which sparked significant backlash. The opposition criticized, "Is this regional division now?"

The Democratic Party explained, "This is a measure to tightly block the spread of COVID-19 in the community," adding, "It does not mean completely sealing off the region." President Moon also instructed Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok to clarify that "this does not mean a regional lockdown but rather the maximum prevention of COVID-19 transmission and spread."

Recently, criticism has also been raised regarding real estate policies, with claims that the implementation of the three lease laws divided landlords and tenants.

Yoon Hee-sook, a People Power Party (formerly United Future Party) lawmaker, criticized on her Facebook on July 30, saying, "Declaring landlords as enemies and tenants as my friends is a lowly political tactic to divide the people." She added, "The lawmakers who made this law think tenants are their voter base, so landlords do not need to be protected as citizens," questioning, "Putting ethics aside, does that calculation even make sense?"

Photo by Moon Jae-in, captured from Facebook

Meanwhile, on the afternoon of the 2nd, President Moon posted on Facebook, "I extend my deep gratitude and respect to the nurses who are quietly holding the medical frontlines where residents and doctors have left." He continued, "They must be struggling and having a hard time fighting COVID-19 for long hours, and now they have to bear the burden of doctors who have been on strike for a long time. How difficult and challenging that must be."

He also said, "Due to the medical service gaps, patients are experiencing greater inconvenience, and nurses have to endure criticism and verbal abuse. Thinking of nurses suffering from poor working conditions, increased workload, and emotional labor is very heartbreaking."

President Moon particularly wrote, "During the recent heatwave, heartbreaking news that medical staff at outdoor screening clinics could not take off their protective suits and were collapsing moved the hearts of the people," adding, "Although they were referred to as medical staff, the public knows well that most of them were nurses."

The opposition criticized that the president was dividing doctors and nurses. On the same day, Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in a verbal statement, "If you divide doctors and nurses, who will you turn into the enemy next?"

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