Sing Haiming Incident Amid China Visit... Opposition's Moves Stir Yeouido Political Scene

Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash on Diplomacy... Ruling Party Criticizes 'Tribute Diplomacy'
Opposition: "Even as Opposition, Contact with China Should Not Be Cut"

As relations between South Korea and China have become strained following remarks by Sing Hai-ming, the Chinese Ambassador to South Korea, members of the Democratic Party of Korea have been visiting China one after another, drawing attention to the background of these visits in Yeouido's political circles. This decision to visit China was made amid criticism from the People Power Party, which labeled it as 'tributary diplomacy' and 'damage to national dignity.' The Democratic Party has countered by asking if they are being told to completely sever diplomatic ties with China.

While diplomatic issues between South Korea and China are becoming a hot topic, the South Korean political sphere appears to be out of sync.

According to the Democratic Party, five lawmakers from the Livelihood Economy Crisis Countermeasures Committee?Kim Tae-nyeon, Hong Ik-pyo, Ko Yong-jin, Hong Ki-won, and Hong Sung-guk?have been visiting Beijing, China since the 12th. They are reportedly attending meetings with local Korean businesspeople and visiting Chinese think tanks.

Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung is meeting with Xing Haiming, the Chinese Ambassador to Korea, at the Chinese Ambassador's residence in Seongbuk-gu on the evening of the 8th. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group [Image source=Yonhap News]

Seven other lawmakers?Do Jong-hwan, Park Jung, Kim Cheol-min, Yoo Dong-soo, Min Byung-duk, Kim Byung-joo, and Shin Hyun-young?are also scheduled to visit China from the 15th to the 18th for cultural exchange purposes. Both visits were made at the invitation of the Chinese government.

On the 14th, Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, targeted the Democratic Party lawmakers visiting China, urging them to "protect the dignity of the Republic of Korea and the pride of its people."

Hong Ik-pyo, a lawmaker visiting China, stated in a KBS Radio interview on the 15th, "The schedule was discussed two months ago and was already finalized two to three weeks ago." Regarding the reason for the visit, he explained that it was to listen to the difficulties faced by Korean companies in China and to discuss current issues such as China's restrictions on group tours from Korea.

Regarding the People Power Party's criticism of the visit to China, Hong said, "It is not desirable to politicize diplomatic issues," adding, "Is the government and ruling party considering a complete international severance of South Korea-China relations?"

Some express concerns that South Korea might be falling into China's divide-and-conquer strategy, which closely aligns with the opposition party while not communicating with the ruling party. In response, Democratic Party lawmaker Jung Sung-ho rebutted in an SBS Radio interview, saying, "Rather, in this situation, it is important that even opposition lawmakers maintain contact lines with China so that they do not break."

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