Moon's father controversy turns into legal battle... Park Min-sik "Never labeled anyone as pro-Japanese"

Assemblyman Yoon Geon-yeong Reports Filing of Complaint
Minister Park Min-sik "Regrettable"

Former President Moon Jae-in has filed a defamation lawsuit against Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Min-sik, who referred to Moon's father as a pro-Japanese collaborator, and Minister Park immediately issued a statement expressing regret.

On the 12th, Yoon Gun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and former head of the Blue House National Situation Room under the Moon Jae-in administration, announced via text message, "Former President Moon filed a defamation lawsuit against Minister Park this morning," adding, "A secretary authorized by former President Moon submitted the complaint to Yangsan Police Station."

Earlier, Minister Park stated at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee full meeting on the 6th, "Former President Moon's father served as the head of the agricultural department at Heungnam City Hall during the Japanese colonial period; isn't he a pro-Japanese collaborator?" In response, Representative Yoon held a briefing and announced plans for legal action.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Minister Park stated, "I have never unilaterally labeled or criticized (former President Moon's father) as a pro-Japanese collaborator." Through his Facebook on the same day, Minister Park said, "I will faithfully follow the legal procedures, and consider the accompanying hardships as an honor to endure for the sake of setting the country right," but also expressed "regret."

Regarding his remark, "Isn't former President Moon's father a pro-Japanese collaborator?" he explained, "During my attendance at the recent National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting, I intended to emphasize that the painful history of the past should not be used as a tool to hinder the present and future."

He continued, "Whether it is General Baek Seon-yeop or former President Moon's father, we should not recklessly define their lives. The same standards and criteria should be applied to all who lived through the painful era of Japanese colonial rule," adding, "I express deep disappointment and regret over the former president's legal attack, which once again turns this into a political struggle between anti-Japanese and pro-Japanese factions."

Furthermore, he said, "If this lawsuit becomes an opportunity for active and productive discussions about what exactly constitutes pro-Japanese collaboration and who the collaborators are, it would be an unexpected gain," and added, "I will continue to strive so that our people can break free from the distorted pro-Japanese framework."

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