"Independence Activists Are People Who Lived Carelessly" Yoon Seo-in's Outrageous Remark... Song Young-gil Strongly Criticizes, Saying "It's Embarrassing to Live in the Same Era"

Yoon Seoin Posts Photo of Descendants' House, Saying "Pro-Japanese Collaborators Were Hardworking People"

On the morning of the 6th, Song Young-gil, the chairman, is speaking at the urgent briefing of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee held at the National Assembly regarding the seizure of the Korean chemical tanker by Iran. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Song Young-gil, chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee and member of the Democratic Party of Korea, strongly criticized cartoonist Yoon Seo-in for causing controversy with remarks defending pro-Japanese collaborators.

On the 14th, Song posted on his Facebook, "Before anger at such absurd remarks, a sense of self-disgust and shame overwhelms me at having to live in the same era as such people," and criticized, "How deeply must the hearts of the descendants of independence activists be torn by (Yoon’s) outrageous comments?"

Earlier, Yoon had posted on his Facebook a photo comparing the homes of descendants of pro-Japanese collaborators and independence activists, saying, "While the descendants of pro-Japanese collaborators live so diligently, what exactly have the descendants of independence activists done? Even 100 years ago, weren’t the so-called pro-Japanese collaborators hardworking people and the independence activists people who lived roughly?" thereby disparaging independence activists and causing controversy.

In response, Song said, "Does our society accept as natural the sad self-portrait that if you collaborate with the Japanese, your family prospers for three generations, but if you are an independence activist, your family suffers for three generations?" and pointed out, "If we had properly carried out the purge of pro-Japanese collaborators, how could such anti-national and antisocial remarks be brazenly made?"

He continued, "If those who sold out and betrayed the country and nation are not punished, and their descendants inherit wealth and honor, who would be willing to sacrifice again for the country?" raising the issue of the purge of pro-Japanese collaborators.

He added, "The purge of pro-Japanese collaborators remains an unfinished task and an urgent national mission," emphasizing, "Purging pro-Japanese collaborators and confiscating their assets is the way to establish national spirit and justice in this country."

Finally, he raised his voice, saying, "Germany is a model for how to deal with a shameful past. Even now, more than 70 years later, Germany’s reflection and apology continue, and the crimes and horrors of Nazi Germany are continuously recalled through the education system," and "Seeing Japan’s behavior without reflection or apology, we must reconsider what we must do."

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