Yoon Seok-yeol Visits Gwangju... University Campuses Display Posters Saying "We Will Stop You"

University Student Union "Spewing Out Abusive Remarks Praising Jeon Du-hwan"
"No Right to Shed Tears" Overnight Sit-in Protest in Front of 5·18 Cemetery

Yoon Seok-yeol, People Power Party Presidential Candidate / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is scheduled to visit Gwangju Metropolitan City on the afternoon of the 10th to express an apology regarding the so-called 'Jeon Du-hwan defense' controversy. This visit is seen as his first regional schedule after being selected as the presidential candidate and an effort to manage controversies including his remarks about Jeon Du-hwan and the 'dog apology' incident.

However, on university campuses in Gwangju, large posters condemning Yoon with messages such as "Resign before apologizing" have appeared, indicating that public opinion in Gwangju remains negative toward the candidate.

The Gwangju-Jeonnam University Student Progressive Union (Daejin-yeon) posted critical posters against Yoon on the campuses of universities in Gwangju, including Chonnam National University, Chosun University, Gwangju University, and Health University on the 9th.

In a poster titled "Yoon Seok-yeol, do not come to Gwangju and resign first," Daejin-yeon stated, "It is doubtful whether Yoon, who keeps spouting outrageous remarks, is fit to be a presidential candidate," and criticized, "It is strange that he praises Jeon Du-hwan, who glorified military dictatorship and suppressed the basic rights of the people, as someone living in the 2021 era."

They continued, "Such a person is not qualified to be a presidential candidate, nor to visit Gwangju and shed fake tears," emphasizing, "Resign before apologizing. We will stop you."

On the afternoon of the 9th, students belonging to the Korean University Students Progressive Union near the National May 18th Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju, are preparing for an overnight sit-in to block the visit of Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, scheduled for the 10th. / Photo by Yonhap News

Some university students even held an overnight sit-in protest to prevent Yoon from visiting the May 18 Democratic Cemetery for a memorial. They set up tents near the cemetery and are guarding the entrance in groups of eight, waiting. If Yoon insists on visiting the May 18 Cemetery on the 10th, a clash with them seems unavoidable.

Meanwhile, Yoon announced his plan to visit Gwangju immediately after the People Power Party primary. At that time, Yoon explained, "I am currently discussing the visit to Gwangju with our party officials there," and added, "I am planning not to just go and come back on the same day, but to stay for about one or two nights."

Yoon is scheduled to start his Gwangju visit in the afternoon by visiting the birthplace of the late lawyer Hong Nam-soon in Hwasun, Jeonnam.

Earlier, on the 19th of last month, during a visit to Busan, Yoon said, "There are people who say that former President Jeon Du-hwan did well in politics except for the military coup and the May 18 Democratic Movement (response at the time)," and "There are quite a few people in Honam who say such things," which sparked backlash from Gwangju citizens.

As criticism grew, Yoon expressed regret on Facebook three days after the remarks, saying, "It was not right." However, at that time, a photo of him giving fruit 'apple' to his pet dog was posted on his Facebook, which triggered the 'dog apology' controversy.

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