What Do You Think About Kim Won-woong's 'Red' Remark?

Kim Won-woong "The person called a 'ppalgaengi' should become president"
Ideological debate arises over 'ppalgaengi' remark

Kim Won-woong, President of the Liberation Association. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy reporters Han Seung-gon and Kim Seul-gi] Kim Won-woong, chairman of the Liberation Association, sparked an ideological debate by stating that "the next president should be someone who is called a red." Earlier, in his August 15th speech commemorating the 75th anniversary of Liberation Day, Chairman Kim also advocated for the 'purge of pro-Japanese collaborators,' saying, "South Korea is the only country that has not properly purged national traitors," which stirred controversy.

On the afternoon of the 21st, at the Wangsan Heo Wi Memorial Hall in Gumi, Gyeongbuk, dedicated to independence activist Heo Wi, Chairman Kim gave a special lecture on the topic of "The Identity of the Liberation Association and the Task of Purging Pro-Japanese Collaborators." He claimed, "Whenever nationalism is mentioned, people are indiscriminately labeled as reds. Presidents Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in are called reds."

Regarding the Korea-US alliance, he said, "The United States does not recognize Korea as a friend but sees it as a subordinate, so a horizontal relationship between Korea and the US must be maintained." He added, "However, when such claims are made, certain political factions and media forces rooted in pro-Japanese collaboration label them as reds," repeatedly mentioning the term 'red.'

Some citizens are criticizing Chairman Kim's repeated use of the term 'red' as a form of dichotomous logic. However, there are also voices defending his remarks. Consequently, some believe that Chairman Kim's comments have sparked a kind of ideological debate.

University student Park Sun-young (25, pseudonym) said, "I don't know when the term 'red' became relevant. Whenever it seems forgotten, the political sphere brings up terms like red or pro-North leftists, which don't resonate much with the public sentiment. I don't sympathize with that." She added, "Every time I hear such words, it seems like they don't care about the people and are only focused on consolidating their own power."

Kim Won-woong, President of the Liberation Association, sparked an ideological controversy by stating, "The next president should be someone who is called a red." The photo shows a conservative group's rally at Gwanghwamun in front of the Kyobo Building in Seoul on National Foundation Day in 2019. Photo by Yonhap News

On the other hand, there are opinions supporting Chairman Kim's remarks. Choi Sung-dae (pseudonym), a man in his 40s, said, "Then shouldn't we take this opportunity to thoroughly purge the pro-Japanese collaborators?" He raised his voice, saying, "The reason why these ideological debates arise every year is that the pro-Japanese collaborators have not been properly purged. Before criticizing that it divides the people, shouldn't we just avoid creating things that cause division?"

This is not the first time Chairman Kim's remarks have ignited ideological debates. Earlier, on August 15th, he advocated for the 'purge of pro-Japanese collaborators' in his speech commemorating the 75th anniversary of Liberation Day.

In his speech at the '75th Liberation Day Celebration' held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Chairman Kim said, "After the defeat of Japan, the US military government was established, and then the Korean government was formed, but painful events unfolded. Syngman Rhee violently disbanded the Special Committee for Anti-National Activities and colluded with pro-Japanese collaborators." He added, "South Korea became the only country that has not properly purged national traitors, and this unpurged history continues to this day."

Political opinions were divided over these remarks. The Democratic Party emphasized the need for a 'thorough purge of pro-Japanese remnants,' while the People Power Party criticized the remarks as 'biased and divisive rhetoric.'

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party, defended Chairman Kim's remarks in an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' saying, "As chairman of the Liberation Association, he can express that level of awareness of the issue."

Lee said, "There may be room for discussion on individual remarks, but many people agree that the pro-Japanese remnants have not been sufficiently purged until now."

He added, "It's strange to make a fuss without calmly examining the fact that the Liberation Association chairman spoke more strongly on this matter."

On the other hand, Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the United Future Party (predecessor of the People Power Party), issued a statement saying, "Chairman Kim's remarks, which turned the entire nation's Liberation Day into a cauldron of division, had intentional motives," and fiercely criticized, "Will the president just pass over this agitator who only stirs up the nation's division by scratching at historical wounds again with silent complicity? The president must answer."

Choi Hyung-doo, the floor spokesperson, also criticized, saying in a statement, "Chairman Kim's historical conclusion, who closed his eyes to historical facts and labeled people as pro-Japanese collaborators, is a 'Kim Jong-un hero theory,'" adding, "His poor historical awareness and biased history will only regress South Korea into a feudal monarchy with a three-generation hereditary succession like North Korea and make it a country that succumbs to the North Korean nuclear threat."

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