'Hwang Kyo-ik on "Controversy over Gratitude Greetings": Korea Is a Primitive Society That Tramples Anyone Just for Saying "I Support Someone"'

Hwang Kyo-ik, appointed as the president of Gyeonggi Tourism Organization. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Hwang Kyo-ik, who has been embroiled in controversy over his nomination as president of the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, said, "Korea is simply a very uncivilized society where just saying 'I support someone' tramples on that person's survival and dignity."

On the 19th, Hwang appeared on YTN Radio's "Hwang Bo-seon's Start of a New Morning" and stated, "Korean society is one where celebrities who support politicians or express political opinions are targeted for destruction."

Hwang described Korea as an "over-politicized society." He said, "I thought about trying to break through that wall somehow. I believed that supporting politics wouldn't have such a big impact on my life, so I declared my support for Moon Jae-in and endured it," adding, "In the U.S., even if a celebrity says at an awards ceremony, 'Mr. President, you should be ashamed,' they maintain their professional life. But Korean society is not like that."

He continued, "Why are citizens not even allowed to make proper political statements?" and emphasized, "Why do even politicians tolerate such a society? Citizens need to think seriously about this."

Regarding criticism directed at him, he questioned, "Lee Jae-myung and Lee Nak-yeon engage in negative campaigning and other tactics when competing for the presidency, but why is it directed at me?" He asked, "Am I a politician? Have I run as a presidential candidate? Why am I being subjected to negative attacks?"

Addressing Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who said Hwang "crossed the line," Hwang said, "If a Democratic Party politician first made a statement that crossed the line toward citizens, the representative should call that politician and demand an apology, but instead, I, a citizen, was scolded first," adding, "Does political power always have to be on top? Must citizens always live being oppressed and beaten by political power?"

Earlier, on the afternoon of the 18th, Song, who visited the National Seoul National Cemetery to pay respects on the 12th anniversary of former President Kim Dae-jung's death, responded to questions about Hwang by saying, "I don't know the details, but I think Hwang's remarks were excessive and crossed the line."

Meanwhile, Lee Nak-yeon, a Democratic Party presidential pre-candidate, has criticized Hwang's nomination as president of the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization. On the 16th, Oh Young-hoon, chief spokesperson for Lee's campaign, said on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus," "Lee appeared on a YouTube channel run by Hwang, and Hwang once defended 'insulting his sister-in-law,' so this can be seen as a reward for a pro-Lee Jae-myung figure."

On the 17th, Shin Kyung-min, former lawmaker and standing vice chairman of Lee's campaign, mocked Hwang in an interview with CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show," saying, "He is more suited to the tourism organizations of Tokyo or Osaka in Japan than the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization."

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