Democratic Party Criticizes Yoon's THAAD Deployment Pledge as "Security Populism" and "Typical Regional Discrimination"

17 Democratic Party Lawmakers from Chungcheong Region: "Yoon Provokes Anxiety and Conflict Among Chungcheong Residents"

Yoon Ho-jung, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on the 3rd and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Democratic Party of Korea launched a fierce attack on Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, on the 3rd regarding his pledge to additionally deploy THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense). They called it "security populism" aimed at gaining votes by stirring security fears without considering national interests.

Yoon Ho-jung, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, criticized Yoon during the Democratic Party's policy coordination meeting held that morning, saying, "Is he brave because he is ignorant?" and added, "The behavior of security populism that tries to gain votes by provoking security fears without considering national interests is shocking in itself."

He continued, "THAAD is a defense system that intercepts high-altitude missiles flying above 50 km. However, the missiles recently test-fired by North Korea all have a maximum altitude below 40 km. Defense experts point out that THAAD has no relevance in defending against low-altitude missiles."

He also questioned, "They say THAAD will be deployed to protect the metropolitan area, but THAAD's range is 200 km. We cannot help but ask where and how it will be deployed in the metropolitan area." He added, "We have already experienced the THAAD controversy where all residents of South Korea opposed the site selection. Is Candidate Yoon trying to recreate this?"

Regarding former People Power Party emergency committee member Kim Jae-seop mentioning Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province or Gyeryong in Chungnam as possible sites for additional THAAD deployment, Floor Leader Yoon pointed out, "It is suspicious as a typical regional discrimination and division, throwing undesirable facilities to local areas while only the metropolitan area enjoys the benefits."

He further stated, "Candidate Yoon advocated for tactical nuclear weapons during the People Power Party primaries, and this year he has escalated his stance with preemptive strikes and additional THAAD deployment remarks." He warned, "The security of South Korea involves the lives of 50 million people. The public will never entrust security to a candidate who will do anything just to get votes."

Park Wan-joo, the policy committee chairman of the Democratic Party representing Cheonan-si Eul in Chungnam, also questioned former committee member Kim's remarks, asking, "Is national security limited only to metropolitan residents?" He criticized, "Candidate Yoon, who used to visit the Chungcheong region and call himself a son of Chungcheong, should apologize to the people of Chungcheong for his hypocritical remarks."

Moreover, Democratic Party lawmakers from the Chungcheong region, including Kim Jong-min, Kang Hoon-sik, and Moon Jin-seok, held a press conference in the National Assembly and strongly criticized, saying, "Candidate Yoon, who claimed to be a son of Chungcheong, gave the holiday gift of THAAD to Chungcheong?" They added, "There was even a claim that THAAD should be deployed in Chungcheong because metropolitan residents might be inconvenienced by it. Does the People Power Party and Candidate Yoon consider only metropolitan residents as citizens?"

Cho Seung-rae, the senior spokesperson of the campaign headquarters, also held a briefing at the party headquarters that day, stating, "The harm of Candidate Yoon's security populism is becoming more serious day by day. As soon as the Lunar New Year holiday began, he stirred controversy with the single phrase 'additional THAAD deployment,' inciting anxiety and conflict among local residents." He urged, "The practice of using security for political gain must stop immediately."

Regarding former committee member Kim Jae-seop's remarks, he pointed out, "He said that THAAD batteries could be deployed in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, or Gyeryong, Chungnam, to defend the metropolitan area. The argument is to deploy them in these areas because metropolitan residents might be inconvenienced." He added, "Residents of these areas, who have suddenly become victims of THAAD agitation, cannot help but be angry."

He continued, "We hope Candidate Yoon clarifies whether he really has these areas in mind or where the candidate sites are. If he confidently pledged with just six words, he should at least be able to explain that much." He criticized, "Security is not a game of comments." He also demanded measures regarding US-China conflicts and conflicts with China since 2016, emphasizing, "If he cannot provide proper answers to such questions, Candidate Yoon's six-word pledge is nothing more than irresponsible agitation. It is a confession that he has been a security merchant as an incompetent candidate."

Earlier, on the 30th of last month, when North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), Candidate Yoon announced a one-line pledge on his social media, stating "additional THAAD deployment."

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