Seolhun: "Yoon Young-chan made a mistake, but calling for resignation is a political attack"

"Since the matter has been settled, do not argue until the end"

Seol Hoon, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] 설훈, a fellow member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Yoon Young-chan, a Democratic Party lawmaker embroiled in controversy over 'pressuring portal sites to edit news,' saying he "was wrong." However, he argued that the opposition party's demand for Yoon's resignation from his parliamentary seat was "an excessive political attack."

On the morning of the 11th, 설 의원 appeared on 'YTN Radio Start New Morning' and said, "It seems that Yoon did not fully understand that (AI was editing portal news)," adding, "It appears that after resigning, he made new adjustments regarding that matter."

Regarding the People Power Party's demand that Yoon resign from both the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee and his parliamentary seat, 설 의원 dismissed it as "a political attack."

He further explained, "From what I heard from Yoon, it is common sense that the speeches of both party leaders should be given equal weight, but he felt that the portions of the speeches by Lee Nak-yeon, the Democratic Party leader, and Joo Ho-young, the People Power Party floor leader, were not balanced," adding, "He seemed to think this was oppression of the ruling party or neglect of the ruling party."

He emphasized, "He apologized, and Leader Lee sternly reprimanded him. Since the matter has been settled, let's not continue to argue about it."

Earlier, on the 9th, the People Power Party criticized Yoon's message saying "Tell Kakao to come in," mentioning 'resignation from the parliamentary seat.'

People Power Party members of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office that day, calling the controversy "a historic day that clearly revealed the true face of media control and media manipulation under the Moon Jae-in administration," and claimed, "Depending on the results of future investigations and inquiries, it would be appropriate for Yoon to step down from public office, including his parliamentary seat."

Yoon Young-chan, Democratic Party member / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, the controversy arose on the 8th when a Telegram message shared by Yoon with his aides was exposed to a media outlet's camera.

That afternoon, in the National Assembly plenary session hall, when aides sent Yoon a screenshot showing Joo Ho-young's floor leader speech article posted on the portal site's main page, saying, "Joo Ho-young's speech is immediately reflected on the main page," Yoon replied, "Kakao is too much. Tell them to come in."

In response, the People Power Party protested, calling it 'news control.' On the same day, Bae Hyun-jin, the People Power Party floor spokesperson, said in a statement, "This is shocking and very regrettable. News control, it was real," and criticized, "Have you been trying to control public opinion through portals all along? The Democratic Party must explain immediately."

Later, at the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee full meeting that day, Yoon explained, "Yesterday, while watching Leader Lee Nak-yeon's speech, I monitored Kakao's main page, but it did not appear on the main page. However, today, when Floor Leader Joo Ho-young gave his speech, the full article appeared on the main page," adding, "I thought I should find out why there was such a difference for the same issue, given that the speeches of both party leaders are already scheduled, so I told my aides to look into it."

As the controversy spread, Leader Lee, at the party's Supreme Council meeting the next day (the 9th), targeted Yoon, saying, "Not only that lawmaker but also several others are making remarks that worry the public," and urged, "We must be careful not to make remarks that cause misunderstandings or worries."

On the afternoon of the same day, Yoon posted on his Facebook, "I failed to maintain a strict attitude and use appropriate language," and expressed his apology, saying, "I am sorry. It is my fault."

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