Regarding the Abolition of 'Hongbeomdo-ro', Song Young-gil Criticizes as 'Kkoldooki', Lee Jang-woo Retorts with 'Songsari'

Controversy Over Abolishing 'Hong Beomdo Janggun-ro' in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon
Song: "When the Mangdungi jumps, the Kkoldugi also jumps"
Lee: "The only place for corrupt Songsari is prison"

Amid controversy over the abolition of 'Hong Beom-do General Road' in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, a war of nerves broke out between former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil and Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo.

On the morning of the 10th, at a visit to pay respects at General Hong Beom-do's gravesite in the National Daejeon Cemetery, former leader Song criticized, saying, "Even the Yoon Seok-yeol administration does not deny General Hong Beom-do's independence struggle and achievements, yet the mayor of Daejeon is making a crazy statement about erasing a street named after the general." He added, "They say when the mantis jumps, the squid jumps too, and Mayor Lee was the squid," continuing his criticism by saying, "I don't know if he is trying to show excessive loyalty to the regime, but his actions resemble those of the pro-Japanese group Iljinhoe."

Former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Song Young-gil, visited the grave of General Hong Beom-do at the National Daejeon National Cemetery in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, on the 10th and made remarks after paying respects.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 7th, Mayor Lee sparked controversy during a city briefing by stating, "The bust of General Hong Beom-do inside the Military Academy is inappropriate," and "We need to thoroughly trace the general's life trajectory to re-examine his merits and faults, and if there are many faults, the Hong Beom-do General Road should be abolished." In response, Jung Yong-rae, head of Yuseong-gu Office, strongly opposed the abolition, saying, "There will absolutely be no abolition," followed by backlash from the Democratic Party's Daejeon branch and local veterans' organizations against Mayor Lee's remarks.

Regarding former leader Song's remarks, Mayor Lee counterattacked on the same day through his social media (SNS).

Mayor Lee posted a brief message saying, "A corrupt minnows is polluting Daejeoncheon and leaving. The only place for a rotten and corrupt minnow is prison..." This metaphor likened former leader Song, who is at the center of the '2021 Democratic Party Convention money envelope scandal,' to a minnow.

Mayor Jang-woo Lee of Daejeon
[Photo by Daejeon City, Yonhap News]

In 2021, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, designated a 2 km stretch between Hyeonchungwon Station and the National Cemetery as 'Hong Beom-do General Road' to commemorate General Hong Beom-do's interment at the Daejeon National Cemetery, following resident opinion gathering and review by the Road Name Address Committee.

Meanwhile, on the same day in Daejeon, the Hong Beom-do General Memorial Association hosted the "Hong Beom-do General Road Korean People Walking Contest" to oppose the relocation of the general's bust. At the event, about 500 Daejeon citizens walked along Hong Beom-do General Road, urging the withdrawal of the bust's relocation. Around 3 p.m., they gathered in front of Hyeonchungwon Station on Daejeon Urban Railway Line 1, where the memorial plaque for General Hong Beom-do is located, and walked 4 km to the National Daejeon Cemetery, repeatedly chanting slogans demanding "Withdraw the bust relocation."

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