Presidential Office: "Assemblyman Kang Seong-hee's Actions Deemed Security Threat... Regrettable" (Comprehensive)

"Local Assembly Member Crosses Gold Bridge at Jeonbuk Celebration Event"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Presidential Office issued an official statement calling the incident "a situation judged to be a threat to security" in response to Progressive Party lawmaker Kang Seong-hee (Jeonju-si Eul), who attended the launch ceremony of Jeonbuk Special Autonomous Province, being forcibly removed by presidential security agents and demanding an apology from the president.

A Presidential Office official stated at a briefing held on the afternoon of the 18th at the Yongsan Government Complex in Seoul, "At the Jeonbuk Special Autonomous Province launch ceremony attended by the president, when Lawmaker Kang shook hands, she shouted and refused to let go of the president's hand, and even after the president passed by, she shouted loudly, disrupting the event," explaining that the removal was unavoidable.

The Presidential Office said, "It was an occasion to offer congratulations and express the central government's active support for the development of Jeonbuk. It is beyond acceptable conduct for a lawmaker from the institutional political sphere, representing a Jeonbuk constituency, to cause such an incident."

Regarding criticism that the Security Office's response was excessive, the Presidential Office official explained, "In a situation where she was shouting loudly with her hands shaped like horns, it was judged that the president and public safety could be threatened, so the action was taken."

When asked about additional legal actions, the official replied, "That is not the case at this time," adding, "We regret that a lawmaker who has entered the institutional political sphere caused such a disturbance, shouted, and refused to let go of the president's hand at an event discussing the future and development of Jeonbuk, including her own constituency."

Meanwhile, immediately after the launch ceremony of Jeonbuk Special Autonomous Province, Lawmaker Kang held a press conference at the Jeonbuk Provincial Council, stating, "When I greeted President Yoon at the ceremony and said, 'The national policy direction must change,' presidential security agents suddenly rushed in, covered my mouth, and dragged me out of the venue."

Lawmaker Kang criticized, "Was that one phrase really that offensive?" and said, "I will strongly protest to the Presidential Office about today's incident where a lawmaker's mouth was covered and limbs were lifted to be dragged out of the venue, and demand an apology from the president."

In response, People Power Party lawmaker Lee Yong-ho issued a statement saying, "It appears that a public official, a lawmaker, disrupted the celebratory atmosphere of the entire Jeonbuk people, interfered with the event, and tried to use it as a platform for political propaganda and agitation," and added, "I hope she first apologizes for her rude and unreasonable behavior toward the president."

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