"Martial Law Troops as Photo Subjects" Criticized by Opposition... Ahn Byung-gil Asks, "Is Moon Also on the Side of Martial Law Troops?"

As the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs posted a promotional photo commemorating the May 18 event, members of the Democratic Party of Korea criticized it as a "photo featuring the martial law troops as the main characters," while Ahn Byung-gil, a member of the People Power Party, rebutted by saying, "This is the same photo that the Moon Jae-in administration's Blue House directly used as a May 18 commemorative photo in 2019."

On the 18th, Ahn posted on his social media, "If we follow the Democratic Party's logic, are you saying that President Moon Jae-in sided with the martial law troops and made them the main characters?" he responded sharply.

He pointed out, "The Democratic Party has nitpicked the government's May 18 commemorative photo posted today, claiming it features the martial law troops as the main characters. The photo they are criticizing is the exact same one that the Moon Jae-in administration's Blue House used as a May 18 commemorative photo in 2019."

Earlier, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs posted on social media a photo capturing Gwangju citizens and martial law troops facing off on Geumnam-ro in Gwangju during the May 18 Democratic Uprising. However, criticism arose mainly from Democratic Party figures, pointing out that the photo's perspective favors the martial law troops. Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin said, "Do we really have to see a photo where the martial law troops are the main characters as the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs' May 18 commemorative image in today's 2023 Korea?" Former Democratic Party Supreme Council member Lee Dong-hak also said, "The front and back of the photo should be reversed to be accurate."

However, Ahn pointed out that the same image was used by the Moon administration's Blue House in the past. The difference between the two photos is that the Moon administration used the black-and-white image as is, while the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs used an AI technology-enhanced color restoration. Ahn said, "The Democratic Party's baseless nitpicking is like spitting on Moon Jae-in," adding, "Considering the May 18 Democratic Uprising as their political asset and using it as a tool for political propaganda is precisely the old practice that pollutes the spirit of May."

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