Lee Eon-ju "What makes the ruling party think they can monopolize Gwangju?... A spectacle of Yoon being disrespected" Fierce Criticism

"Yoon's Insult to Gwangju Spirit" Attacked by Ruling Party
Lee Eon-ju: "Kim Du-kwan and Jeong Cheong-rae's Pretentious Sense of Superiority Is Not Even Funny"

Opposition presidential candidate and former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is paying respects at the grave of activist Lee Han-yeol at the 5.18 Old Cemetery (National Democratic Martyrs' Cemetery) in Buk-gu, Gwangju, on the morning of the 17th. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] Former People Power Party lawmaker Lee Eon-ju criticized the ruling party, which has been showering former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol with criticism during his visit to Gwangju, saying, "Have the Democratic Party and other activist political forces monopolized Gwangju?"

In a post on Facebook on the 19th, Lee said, "They say even dogs don't bite guests who come to pay respects, yet the Democratic Party and your activist faction's wicked mouths are worse than dogs."

Lee particularly mentioned Democratic Party lawmakers Kim Doo-kwan and Jung Cheong-rae, saying, "I absolutely cannot tolerate their pathetic sense of superiority," and harshly criticized them, saying, "It's a spectacle how little they must have studied in school, lacking proper skills, yet acting so arrogantly, looking down on and despising others."

He added sarcastically, "Now people find those activist forces so ridiculous and are begging them to just go home, but apparently only they don't realize this."

Earlier, the two lawmakers criticized former Prosecutor General Yoon's visit to Gwangju, saying things like, "Since you are going to resign midway anyway, why do you keep wandering around?" and "Using crocodile tears to insult the spirit of Gwangju."

Former Lee Eon-ju of the People Power Party. / Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

Lee said, "The spirit that runs through the entire May 18 movement was the realization of popular sovereignty, including the implementation of liberal democracy, freedom of thought, religion, and conscience, freedom of the press, publication, academia, and arts, and freedom of expression," adding, "While it was a resistance against authoritarian military regimes, considering the historical context at the time, it cannot be interpreted as aiming for an activist progressive government."

He continued, "The actual owners, the citizens of Gwangju, remain silent, so what on earth is it that they are trying to prevent other political forces from even setting foot there? It's ridiculous," and criticized, "Such behavior by the ruling party trying to politically monopolize Gwangju raises doubts about whether they truly care about Gwangju."

He added, "If they truly care about Gwangju, shouldn't they allow other political forces to visit Gwangju frequently to deepen their intentions and contribute to the future?" and criticized, "They are simply afraid of losing the political symbolic asset of May 18, which they have monopolized in Korean politics, and of no longer enjoying their exclusive status."

Furthermore, he emphasized, "As a result of politically monopolizing Gwangju, political competition has disappeared, and economic development has stagnated. Instead of discussions about people's livelihoods and future visions, it has become a city of the past, ideology, and conflict," adding, "From now on, no political force should monopolize or exclude others to the detriment of the development of liberal democracy or to obstruct our future vision."

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