'Dismissed After 9 Days' Yoon Seo-in "Demanding Formal Apology from Kukhim... After the Election"

"Currently silent due to national war"
Criticism toward Won Hee-ryong: "Are you that afraid to be asked about Yoon Seo-in?"

Cartoonist Yoon Seo-in / Photo by Yoon Seo-in Facebook capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Cartoonist Yoon Seo-in, who was appointed as the head of the media special task force of the People Power Party's National Unity Committee but was dismissed after just nine days, expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "I intend to formally demand an apology."

On the 6th, Yoon wrote on his Facebook, "Since we are currently in a national war situation, I am refraining from saying anything further," expressing his sentiment.

He said, "I believe it is proper to be considerate so that even small frictions within the same camp do not arise and we can focus on the election," adding, "Yesterday, I received an 'indirect' apology, but I don't think this should be brushed off lightly, and I will demand an apology after the election."

He continued, "Don't worry about me and please win the election well," adding, "If you just win the election, all my anger will be resolved. That's how my life has always been; I'm used to playing the villain."

Earlier, the People Power Party appointed Yoon as the head of the media special task force of the National Unity Committee under the Central Election Countermeasures Headquarters on the 23rd of last month. Yoon disclosed this on his Facebook on the 3rd, even posting a photo of the appointment letter bearing the name of Yoon Seok-yeol, the party's presidential candidate. The photo of the appointment letter has since been deleted.

After Yoon revealed this fact, controversy arose. There were criticisms that it was inappropriate to give an appointment letter to someone who had been involved in multiple controversies, including making remarks insulting to independence activists. Ultimately, Yoon was reportedly dismissed on the afternoon of the 4th, just nine days after his appointment.

Won Hee-ryong, head of the Policy Headquarters of the People Power Party's Election Countermeasures Headquarters, announced on Twitter on the 4th the decision to dismiss Yoon Seo-in from the position of Special Media Spokesperson of the National Unity Committee. / Photo by Twitter capture

In this regard, Won Hee-ryong, head of the policy headquarters of the People Power Party's election campaign, wrote on his Twitter account, "Yoon Seo-in has been dismissed, and the election headquarters is currently conducting disciplinary actions against those responsible for such self-harming appointments."

Yoon immediately reacted to Won's statement at the time.

He wrote on Facebook, "Wasn't the Yoon Seok-yeol camp about uniting tightly as long as we shared the one goal of regime change, even if we differed in 99 things?" He added, "Are all 100 things different between me and the Yoon Seok-yeol camp? Are you so afraid to be asked about Yoon Seo-in as a man?" expressing his frustration.

However, he added, "Even if I am treated like this, I will vote for Yoon Seok-yeol and tell those around me to vote for him as well. The future of the Republic of Korea is more important than my personal feelings."

A post Yoon posted on his Facebook last January / Photo by Facebook capture

Meanwhile, on January 12 of last year, Yoon posted a photo on Facebook comparing the houses of descendants of pro-Japanese collaborators and independence activists, sparking controversy by saying, "While the descendants of pro-Japanese collaborators live so diligently, what exactly have the descendants of independence activists done?"

He also rhetorically questioned, "If you look at the facts, weren't the so-called pro-Japanese collaborators people who lived diligently even 100 years ago, while the independence activists lived carelessly?"

At that time, as these remarks spread on online communities, netizens poured criticism on Yoon, and a petition was even posted on the Blue House's public petition board urging, "Please punish Yoon Seo-in for insulting independence activists."

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