"Blocking National Homecoming and Political Grave Visits", "Koronambul" Criticism from Opposition on Lee Nak-yeon's Bongha Village Visit

Itaegyu "What justification was there to block the Gwanghwamun rally?"
Kim Geunsik "Did COVID-19 harm the government and ruling party?"

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited and paid respects at the tomb of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun in Bongha Village, Gimhae, Gyeongnam, on the 1st. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] The opposition parties criticized Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, for visiting Bongha Village in Gimhae, Gyeongnam Province, where the late former President Roh Moo-hyun's tomb is located, during the Chuseok holiday.

On the 5th, Lee Tae-gyu, Supreme Council member of the People’s Party, criticized Lee’s visit to Bongha Village at the party’s Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, calling it a "typical double standard, hypocrisy," saying, "While the government blocked citizens’ travel and ancestral visits to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the ruling party leader traveled a thousand miles to Bongha Village for a political ancestral visit."

He continued, "How can you explain visiting Bongha Village, where many people gathered, during Chuseok when citizens cannot even meet their parents in hospitals due to COVID-19?" He pointed out, "No matter how urgently they need pro-Moon Jae-in votes or how Lee Jae-myung, governor of Gyeonggi Province, is rising, did the ruling party leader who even served as prime minister have to do this?"

He added, "If they themselves disregard the COVID-19 measures they created, on what grounds did they block the Gwanghwamun rallies?" and "What about the citizens who gave up going home and endured staying at home?"

Earlier on the 4th, voices criticizing Lee’s visit to former President Roh’s tomb also emerged from the People Power Party.

On that day, Kim Geun-sik, professor at Gyeongnam National University and head of the Songpa-byeong district party committee of the People Power Party, wrote on his Facebook, "Does COVID-19 only visit the opposition and anti-government protesters while the Moon Jae-in government and ruling party are spared?" He criticized, "They told citizens to refrain from ancestral visits, but Lee visited Bongha Village. Typical double standard, 'Corona-nam-bul' (Corona hypocrisy)."

Representative Lee meeting with citizens who visited the late President Roh's tomb in Bongha Village on the 1st. / Photo by Lee Nak-yeon Facebook capture

Earlier, on the afternoon of Chuseok day, the 1st, Lee visited the tomb of former President Roh in Bongha Village, Gimhae, and paid a courtesy call on Kwon Yang-sook. Lee also posted photos taken with citizens of Bongha Village on his Facebook that day.

In his Facebook post, Lee wrote, "'Awake citizens' came in large numbers (to Bongha Village)," and said, "I wrote in the guestbook, 'President, please give us wisdom and courage so that we, though insufficient, can overcome the national crisis and complete a world where people live together.'"

However, some netizens responded to Lee’s actions with accusations of "hypocrisy." They pointed out that it was inappropriate for Lee to visit the distant Bongha Village while citizens were refraining from traveling home and visiting ancestral graves due to COVID-19 prevention measures.

One netizen commented on Lee’s Facebook post, "Does the virus avoid people with social status?" Another netizen expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "We were told not to go home," and "They told citizens to stay home, so what is the reason for visiting Bongha Village?"

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