Kim Ki-hyun "Gwanghwamun Rally Barricades, Government Suppression of Critics Using COVID-19 as an Excuse"

Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, speaking at the Emergency Response Committee Chairman-Senior Lawmakers meeting held at the National Assembly on August 26. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] On the 7th, Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, criticized the police for installing bus barricades in response to a large-scale rally in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, saying it was "an oppression of government critics under the pretext of COVID-19 quarantine."

In an interview with BBS Radio's 'Park Kyung-soo's Morning Journal' on the same day, Rep. Kim said, "Those who planned to hold a rally on National Foundation Day intended to march in a line without getting out of their cars, but even that was blocked."

He pointed out, "How can infection spread when windows are closed and they just pass by?" and added, "If that logic is applied, then people who take the subway or buses would all be at risk of infection spread."

He continued, "They say there is no risk of infection spread for people riding the subway with dozens or hundreds in one car, but if they say that a line of 10 or 20 cars driving together poses a high risk of infection and is not allowed, who could believe that?"

He then criticized, "Ultimately, this is a very bad act of power suppressing government critics under the pretext of COVID-19."

Regarding the overseas trip of Lee Il-byeong, honorary professor at Yonsei University and husband of Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa, he said, "This case is different from ordinary citizens going to the U.S. It faces the issue of double standards."

Rep. Kim explained, "The Foreign Minister issued a restraint order asking people not to travel abroad for the safety of the public, and many of our young people gave up going abroad for their honeymoons and went domestically instead. In some cases, when their children are abroad, parents even held virtual weddings to refrain from traveling."

He added, "(Professor Lee) went abroad to buy a yacht and for a luxury trip," and said, "This raises the question of whether privileges and unfair advantages are allowed for those in power. Therefore, I think Minister Kang Kyung-hwa herself should judge and make a decision from the perspective of moral responsibility as a high-ranking public official."

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