Click Next to the 'Yoon Chamsu' Model Sword... Kim Byung-joo "Couldn't See the Sign, My Fault"

Photo Taken at the "National Rally Urging the Dismissal of Yoon Seok-yeol" on the 22nd
Kim Byung-joo Apologizes: "My Fault for Not Noticing the Phrase"

Kim Byung-joo, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is facing criticism for posing with citizens while holding a model knife inscribed with the phrase "Decapitate Yoon Seok-yeol." As the controversy spread, Kim's side apologized, stating, "We were unaware of the phrase and it was my fault." According to political circles on the 24th, Kim attended the "National Rally Urging the Dismissal of Yoon Seok-yeol" held around Anguk Station in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 22nd. There, Representative Kim Byung-joo took a photo holding a model knife with a supporter that had "Decapitate Yoon Seok-yeol" written on it. It appears that he posed while holding the model knife prepared by a supporter who attended the impeachment rally against President Yoon.

Kim Byung-joo, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Participants in the impeachment rally against President Yoon had installed a guillotine model at last month's rally and shouted slogans such as "Decapitate Yoon Seok-yeol." Regarding this, Park Min-young, spokesperson for the People Power Party, criticized, "While the Democratic Party outwardly wraps itself in the rule of law to defend the Constitutional Court's unfair trial, behind the scenes it has encouraged out-of-parliament disputes by condoning extreme remarks like 'Decapitate Yoon Seok-yeol,' which are inappropriate to even express." In response to the People Power Party's criticism, Kim's side explained, "We were unaware of the phrase 'decapitate,' and a supporter asked to take a photo together, so we took it. Since we took photos with over 100 people that day, we could not check each one individually."

On the 22nd, Kim, the Supreme Council Member, attended the "Nationwide Rally Urging the Dismissal of Yoon Seok-yeol" held around Anguk Station in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and took a photo holding a model sword inscribed with "Behead Yoon Seok-yeol" together with a supporter. It appears that he posed while holding the model sword prepared by a supporter who attended the impeachment rally against President Yoon. Park Min-young, People Power Party Spokesperson SNS

This photo drew more attention after Lee, the party leader, requested on the evening of the 22nd via an interactive social networking service (SNS) involving key Democratic Party officials, "It would be better not to use expressions like 'death penalty' or 'life imprisonment,' which may feel too harsh toward President Yoon Seok-yeol." At that time, Lee emphasized to party officials on SNS, "Humility, and more humility would be good." This appears to be Lee urging the Democratic Party to respond calmly as the Constitutional Court set the final hearing date for President Yoon's impeachment trial on the 25th.

Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court will hold the 11th and final hearing for President Yoon's impeachment trial starting at 2 p.m. on the 25th. The petitioner, the National Assembly, and the respondent, President Yoon's legal team, will conclude evidence examination and each present comprehensive arguments for two hours. Then, Jeong Cheong-rae, chairman of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee and head of the prosecution team for the petitioner, and President Yoon, the respondent, will deliver their final statements. Political circles expect that once the hearing concludes, the verdict will be announced in mid-March.

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