Hong Jun-pyo: "Although the US military was an occupying force immediately after liberation, Lee Jae-myung's remarks were careless"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] On the 6th, Hong Joon-pyo, a member of the People Power Party, stated that the U.S. troops who first landed immediately after liberation were indeed an "occupying force." However, he criticized Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung's remarks as reckless, mentioning that the nature of the U.S. troops had changed to that of allied forces.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, through social media (SNS), Representative Hong said, "The U.S. troops who first landed in our country immediately after liberation were indeed an occupying force," adding, "Since they won the war against Japan and at that time we were a colony of Japan, it is hard to deny that General MacArthur, who landed in Japan, and General Hodge, who landed in our country, were a kind of occupying force."

He continued, "Afterwards, the U.S. troops were stationed forces, and with the signing of the Korea-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty, their nature changed to allied forces," and said, "The North or the pro-North Korean (Jusapa) activist groups still call the U.S. troops occupying forces and shout for the withdrawal of the U.S. forces stationed in Korea."

Representative Hong said, "The North or the pro-North Korean (Jusapa) activist groups still call the U.S. troops occupying forces and shout for the withdrawal of the U.S. forces stationed in Korea," and defined, "In the modern era of collective defense, calling for the withdrawal of allied forces is an act of treason."

He added, "Whether Governor Lee Jae-myung made those remarks only considering the situation immediately after liberation or from the perspective of the pro-North Korean (Jusapa) activist groups is unknown, but at this point in time, talking about occupying forces is clearly an inappropriate statement that incites anti-American movements," and said, "As a presidential candidate, regardless of party, Governor Lee Jae-myung's remarks were reckless."

On the 1st, Lee had mentioned at the Yi Yuk-sa Literature Museum in Andong, Gyeongbuk, "The Republic of Korea could not start cleanly because it failed to clear out pro-Japanese elements and collaborated with the U.S. occupying forces."

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