"Is This a Country?" Yoo Seung-min and Ha Tae-kyung Denied Attendance at Cheonan Ship Memorial Ceremony

"Ministry of National Defense, Immediately Withdraw Refusal to Attend Cheonan Ship Memorial Ceremony"

Ha Tae-kyung, member of the People Power Party. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min and People Power Party lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung expressed anger after being refused attendance at the 11th anniversary memorial ceremony for the Cheonan ship sinking, scheduled for the 26th.

On the 23rd, Ha posted on his Facebook, "It was not only former lawmaker Yoo who was refused attendance at the Cheonan memorial ceremony. I am a member of the National Defense Committee, and even the defense committee members were refused attendance," raising his voice, "Is this really a country?"

He continued, "The Cheonan incident is the most serious attack South Korea has suffered from North Korea since the Korean War. It is a symbolic event for national security," and criticized, "Even the defense committee members, who represent the people's security, are not allowed to attend this memorial event."

He added, "The Ministry of National Defense says it is because of the election period, but what does honoring the fallen soldiers and comforting their families have to do with politics?" and emphasized, "Who exactly are they trying to please? The Ministry of National Defense must immediately withdraw the refusal to allow attendance at the Cheonan memorial event."

Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, former lawmaker Yoo also posted on his Facebook the previous day under the title "The Moon Jae-in administration that even blocks honoring fallen heroes."

He said, "March 26 is the 6th West Sea Defense Day and also the 11th anniversary of the Cheonan ship sinking," opening his remarks, "West Sea Defense Day is a day to commemorate the warriors who died defending South Korea against North Korean provocations in the Cheonan sinking, the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, and the Yeonpyeong Island shelling."

He continued, "Since becoming a first-term lawmaker in 2004, I have never forgotten these days and have attended the memorial ceremonies," and said, "Especially having served as a member of the National Defense Committee for eight years, cherishing gratitude and love for our military, honoring the spirits of the warriors on their memorial days was a sacred ritual for me."

Former lawmaker Yoo then said, "This year, I was notified that I could not attend the West Sea Defense Day event," and explained, "The reason is that ahead of the by-elections, the military issued guidelines through the Ministry of National Defense to prevent politicians like me from attending in order to maintain political neutrality."

He criticized, "Using the military's political neutrality as a reason for refusing attendance is a petty and flimsy excuse," and pointed out, "The Minister of National Defense is pandering to power and trying to please, which leads to such pathetic ideas."

Furthermore, former lawmaker Yoo said, "Honoring fallen heroes should be open to everyone?whether ruling or opposition parties, conservatives or progressives, politicians or ordinary citizens," and added, "The ruling party, trying to please North Korea and curry favor, is even blocking memorials for the West Sea Defense warriors. I feel angered. Even if alone, I will visit the warriors' graves at Daejeon National Cemetery on March 26 to comfort the spirits of the heroes."

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