Lee Oisoo criticizes Environment Minister over 'Sancheon-eo Festival': "Sprinkling royal salt on the butchered Hwacheon residents"

by Lee Gwanju

Published 09 Feb.2020 21:25(KST)

Updated 09 Feb.2020 21:38(KST)

Facebook of Lee Oisoo.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Novelist Lee Oi-soo criticized Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae's recent criticism of the Gangwon Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival as an "irresponsible remark." Lee Oi-soo serves as an ambassador for Hwacheon County and the Sancheoneo Festival.

On the 9th, Lee Oi-soo pointed out on his Facebook, "It is like the Minister of Environment personally sprinkling royal salt on the naked bodies of Hwacheon residents who have been butchered with various weapons."

Minister Cho reportedly stated at a recent press conference that he views the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival as "a human-centered feast that risks life, which I also consider undesirable."

Lee Oi-soo wrote, "The Sancheoneo Festival has repeatedly developed and risen to become a world-class festival, as well as Korea's representative festival attracting over 1.5 million visitors annually, and the only profitable festival. However, it has suffered continuous blows due to military base reductions, African swine fever, heavy rains and river flooding, poor ice quality caused by global warming, repeated interference from animal protection groups, and the novel coronavirus."

He continued, "Hwacheon County has the lowest financial independence among local governments," emphasizing that "the festival generated about 130 billion won in revenue. This was possible because Hwacheon's river water is first-class, so it is not an environmentally destructive festival." He added, "Although not perfect, festival officials are constantly thinking about and researching improvement and supplementation measures for the issues."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Oi-soo questioned, "How many animals are suffering or being abused while being raised for human dining tables?" and said, "I want to complain that animal protection groups or the Minister of Environment should teach us how to bake gravel or boil sand to eat."

Finally, Lee Oi-soo pointedly said, "Hwacheon is now facing a desperate crisis," and "I hope you will purchase (Sancheoneo) in large quantities and release them into the sea."

Along with Lee Oi-soo, voices criticizing Minister Cho's remarks are rising in the local political circles. Kim Jin-tae, a member of the Liberty Korea Party (Gangwon Chuncheon City), pointed out, "You cannot speak so harshly about an issue that concerns the livelihood of local residents," and Jeong Man-ho, a former Gangwon Province Deputy Governor and a prospective candidate for the National Assembly representing Hongcheon, Cheorwon, Hwacheon, Yanggu, and Inje, also criticized it as "a remark that disregards the survival rights of local residents suffering from regulations."