Yoo Seung-min "Notified of Refusal to Attend Cheonan Ship Memorial Ceremony... Anger at Moon Administration"

Former Future United Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) lawmaker Yoo Seung-min is performing the national salute at the '10th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony for the Battle Heroes of the Yeonpyeong Island Bombardment' held at the National Daejeon National Cemetery on November 23 last year.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Choyoung] Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min criticized the notification that he could not attend the memorial ceremony for the 11th anniversary of the Cheonan ship sinking on the 26th, 'West Sea Defense Day,' due to political neutrality, calling it a "petty and lame excuse."

On the night of the 22nd, Yoo posted on his Facebook under the title "Moon Jae-in administration blocking even the memorial for fallen heroes," stating, "West Sea Defense Day is a day to commemorate the warriors who died defending the Republic of Korea against North Korea's provocations, including the Cheonan ship sinking, the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, and the Yeonpyeong Island shelling," and added, "I have attended the memorial ceremony since 2004 when I became a first-term lawmaker."

Yoo said, "However, I was informed that I cannot attend this year's event. I was also told I cannot attend the memorial ceremony for the 46 Cheonan heroes," and explained, "This is because the Ministry of National Defense issued guidelines preventing politicians from attending in order to maintain political neutrality ahead of the by-elections."

He criticized, "Using the military's political neutrality as a reason to refuse attendance is truly a petty and lame excuse," and added, "The Minister of National Defense is pandering to those in power and acting cautiously, which leads to such pathetic ideas. Shouldn't the door be wide open for politicians and ordinary citizens alike, regardless of party or ideology, to attend the memorial for fallen heroes?"

He continued, "President Moon Jae-in did not mention for five years after the Cheonan sinking that it was caused by a North Korean torpedo attack. Last year's presidential commemorative speech on 'West Sea Defense Day' did not include the words 'North Korea's provocation' or 'North Korea's act,' nor was the word 'North Korea' mentioned at all," and pointed out, "I feel anger that the ruling power, trying to appease North Korea, is even blocking the memorial for the West Sea defense warriors."

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