President Yoon Targets Yoon Mi-hyang... Clear Temperature Gap in Ruling and Opposition Parties' Reactions

Ha Tae-kyung "Unauthorized Attendance Without Prior Notification to the Ministry of Unification"
Jang Kyung-tae "There Are Various Progressive and Conservative Groups Abroad"

President Yoon Suk-yeol's remarks targeting independent lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang, who attended an event hosted by the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), drew sharply divided reactions from the ruling and opposition parties.

The ruling party filed a complaint against Rep. Yoon with the Ethics Committee, backing the president's remarks, while the opposition argued that attending the Chongryon event was not a significant issue.

On the 4th, at a senior secretaries' meeting held at the Yongsan Presidential Office, President Yoon said, "We must resolutely respond together with all citizens, regardless of political camp, to anti-state acts that shake and destroy the free democratic national system," according to a written briefing by Lee Do-woon, spokesperson for the Presidential Office. Although President Yoon did not specify the subject of the 'anti-state acts,' it is interpreted that he had in mind Rep. Yoon's attendance at the memorial ceremony for the Korean victims of the Kanto Earthquake massacre hosted by Chongryon.

On the same day President Yoon mentioned Rep. Yoon, the People Power Party also demanded disciplinary action against her. Jeon Ju-hye, the party's floor spokesperson, said in the morning that 20 People Power Party lawmakers had submitted a disciplinary proposal against Rep. Yoon to the National Assembly Secretariat, stating, "Rep. Yoon's attendance at the Chongryon event is a violation of the Constitution and a breach of her duties as a lawmaker under the National Assembly Act." This appears to be in line with the Presidential Office.

Independent lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang is delivering the opening remarks at the "National Assembly Forum for the Improvement of Welfare for Retired Racehorses" held on February 13 at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Figures from the ruling party also targeted Rep. Yoon through social media. Ha Tae-kyung, a People Power Party lawmaker, wrote on SNS, "Rep. Yoon, who attended the Chongryon event without prior notification to the Ministry of Unification, does not qualify as a member of the National Assembly. Especially, she did not protest even once when Chongryon officials insulted the South Korean government as the 'South Korean puppet regime,'" raising his voice, adding, "In effect, she sympathized with Chongryon's insult calling South Korea the 'South Korean puppet regime.'"

Park Soo-young, head of the Yeouido Institute, said on SNS, "Where is Rep. Yoon's homeland? If you do not agree with her expulsion, the Democratic Party of Korea shares the same color." Former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Shim Jae-chul, a People Power Party member, said, "Chongryon was established by those with North Korean nationality in Japan. Although they appear Japanese on the surface, they are anti-state forces that refer to South Korea as the 'South Korean puppet regime.' Contacting Chongryon without notifying the Ministry of Unification violates the 'Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act.'"

The Democratic Party, Rep. Yoon's 'home base,' has yet to issue a definitive stance.

However, on the same day, Democratic Party lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae said on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' "There are various progressive and conservative groups abroad, as well as overseas Korean organizations. Is the government and ruling party now claiming that Chongryon is a spy organization?" He added, "For example, if a Korean Democratic Party lawmaker attends a U.S. Republican Party event, should that not be allowed?"

This is interpreted to mean that Rep. Yoon's visit to the Chongryon event is not significantly different from a Democratic Party lawmaker attending a U.S. Republican Party event.

Lawmaker Jang said, "(Chongryon) has somewhat pro-North Korean tendencies, but making an issue out of that now is (not appropriate)," adding, "Please specify exactly what the problem with Chongryon is."

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