Yeo Faces Intense Criticism for Attending Chongryon Event... "Democratic Party Ignores"

Yoon Mi-hyang "Color Politics Only Work in Korea"
Yoon Jae-ok "Will the Public Sympathize?"

On the 5th, the People Power Party continued its fierce offensive against independent lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang, who attended the memorial ceremony for the massacre of Koreans during the Kanto Earthquake hosted by the pro-North Korean organization, the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon). In response, Yoon issued a statement arguing that this is a "color-based political attack that only works in Korean society" and denied any illegality. However, she raised questions about the responsibility of the Democratic Party of Korea, which nominated her during the 21st general election, and its leader Lee Jae-myung, urging them to cooperate with disciplinary actions.

Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, met with reporters after a party meeting at the National Assembly in the afternoon and said, "Chongryon is an anti-state organization that orchestrated acts behind the scenes that deeply wounded the hearts of the people." He added, "The fact that a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea attended an event related to that organization and merely watched as government criticism was voiced is something I believe is seriously mistaken to think can be changed by calling it a color-based attack."

He further urged the Democratic Party, which Yoon was affiliated with, to take a stance on the current situation. He said, "The Democratic Party is almost consistently ignoring this issue," and added, "If they overlook this matter, which violates the basic duties of a lawmaker, I am deeply concerned and worried about what kind of issues can be addressed by the Ethics Committee in the future to discipline lawmakers."

Independent lawmaker Yoon Mee-hyang listens to the remarks of Kwon Seong-dong, a member of the People Power Party, during a political question session at the National Assembly on the 5th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Earlier that day, Yoon issued a statement rebutting the ruling party's offensive labeling her as part of "anti-state forces" as a "color-based political attack that only works in Korea." She said, "In Japanese civil society, the color-based political division surrounding the Kanto Massacre event, which is being carried out by Korea's conservative media and the People Power Party, is regarded as a comedic situation," and added, "Only Korea's conservative media and the People Power Party are inflicting further wounds on the victims of the Kanto Massacre through ideological witch hunts."

Yoon also emphasized that various civil society groups, transcending ideology and orientation, attended the event. She explained, "Most of the memorial projects for the 100th anniversary of the Kanto Massacre in Japan are organized and prepared by the 'Kanto Massacre Victims Memorial Executive Committee (Executive Committee).' The Executive Committee includes about 100 organizations from various sectors of Japanese society and even Chinese groups, and naturally, Chongryon is included among them," adding, "Wherever you go in Japanese civil society, Chongryon is present."

Jang Kyung-tae: Chongryon is 'Somewhat Pro-North'... Ruling Party Responds with 'Reflexive Shielding'

Regarding Democratic Party Supreme Council member Jang Kyung-tae's description of Chongryon as "somewhat pro-North" the previous morning, the ruling party also criticized him. During an interview on SBS Radio, Jang said, "Is the government and ruling party claiming that Chongryon is a spy organization? For example, should Korean Democratic Party lawmakers not attend events held by the U.S. Republican Party? It is just that they have a somewhat pro-North inclination."

Jang Dong-hyuk, spokesperson for the People Power Party floor, said in a statement that day, "Council member Jang tried to defend Chongryon by playing word games, saying it is 'somewhat pro-North,'" and added, "Although Yoon is nominally independent, she is effectively a Democratic Party lawmaker, and this is a reflexive shield for her." Yoon left the party after being accused of embezzling donations while serving as chairperson of the Justice and Memory Foundation, but after leaving the party, she participated as a non-negotiating group member in the Grain Management Act Steering Committee promoted by the Democratic Party, helping to pass the bill.

People Power Party lawmaker Heo Eun-ah also targeted Council member Jang on Facebook that day, writing, "This is getting worse. Is it Democratic Party loyalty to defend a fellow lawmaker who attended an anti-state organization event?" and added, "If you are a person with a firm belief in holding a 'somewhat pro-North' Chongryon event in Dongdaemun, I will acknowledge that."

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