"Behind the Democratic Party" vs "Legitimate Voices" Debate Over Rally After Mourning Period Ends

Suspicions of 'Democratic Party Behind' Large-Scale Rally for Yoon's Resignation
Opposition: "People's Anger, Legitimate as Sovereign" Intensifies Dispute

A candlelight vigil to commemorate the victims of the Itaewon tragedy and to condemn the government is being held near Sicheong Station on the 5th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] Political disputes seem to be intensifying immediately after the national mourning period for the 'Itaewon crowd crush disaster' ended. The People Power Party (PPP) is accusing the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) of being behind the weekend rallies in downtown Seoul calling for President Yoon Seok-yeol's resignation, fiercely attacking them for "politicizing the tragedy." The DPK, on the other hand, called the rallies "the people's legitimate voice" and repeatedly demanded a state audit and the appointment of a special prosecutor related to the disaster.

On the 8th, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the PPP, urged the DPK to stop political offensives and cooperate across party lines during a floor strategy meeting at the National Assembly. He pointed out, "At the early stage of the Itaewon disaster, the DPK seemed to show a responsible opposition party image by pledging bipartisan cooperation for recovery, but even before the national mourning period ended, they exploited the national tragedy as a tool for political attacks."

Regarding the previous day’s incident where Democratic Party lawmaker Moon Jin-seok was seen receiving a text message from someone presumed to be a party insider, containing claims that "the profiles including the names and photos of the Itaewon disaster victims should be secured, disclosed, and a memorial space established," Joo criticized it as "an immoral act politically exploiting the grief of bereaved families." He added, "They are willing to use any means and methods for party interests, repeating the behaviors seen in the past with mad cow disease and the Sewol ferry disaster to seek political gain," he criticized.

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the party floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the party strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The PPP suspects that the DPK was behind the rallies calling for regime change held in downtown Seoul last weekend and on the day of the Itaewon disaster, May 29. Recently, a media outlet reported that former and current DPK lawmakers were involved with a group called 'Isimminsimi' participating in the rallies, and that the group's leader was a figure who worked in Lee Jae-myung’s presidential campaign. In response, Jeong Jin-seok, emergency committee chairman of the PPP, pointed out, "The DPK actively mobilized rally participants even on the day of the disaster, and the tragedy occurred on the night when police forces were deployed to the rallies in Seoul."

The DPK defended the rallies as "the legitimate voice of the sovereign people." Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the DPK, reacted at the Supreme Council meeting, saying, "The ruling party’s current and former leadership, instead of comforting the people's pain, are trying to politicize the disaster with horrific remarks such as 'not mourning but disgrace' and 'tragedy is an industry, candlelight is a business.'"

He continued, "This disaster is a national catastrophe caused by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration’s total incompetence and poor response," emphasizing, "This is why the people demand an unreserved state audit." The DPK plans to submit a request for a state audit to the National Assembly on the 9th together with lawmakers from the Justice Party, independents, and other opposition parties.

Some in the political circle criticize that follow-up procedures such as investigating the cause of the disaster and establishing measures to prevent recurrence are being overshadowed by partisan conflicts. Former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop said in an interview with SBS’s 'Kim Tae-hyun’s Political Show,' "The ruling party keeps avoiding responsibility, shifting blame to the police, and saying 'What did I do wrong?' while holding their positions, which leads to voices calling for the president’s resignation gaining momentum."

However, Geum also targeted the DPK, saying, "Although the DPK officially denies it, they participate in such rallies. This is a serious mistake, and the party leadership should instruct members not to attend," adding, "Going to extreme rallies and calling for 'Yoon Seok-yeol’s resignation' alienates the majority of the public from the DPK."

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