"Why Honor Jeong Yul-seong?"... Ruling Party Lawmakers Focus Fire on Gwangju City

Regarding the controversy over the establishment of the 'Jeong Yul-seong Historical Park,' Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung's remark to "stop the controversy and leave the evaluation to history" has drawn sharp criticism from the ruling party. Kwon Seong-dong, a member of the People Power Party, criticized it as a "fallacious argument that reverses cause and effect," while Lee Yong, also from the People Power Party, raised his voice, saying it is "turning Gwangju into a ‘holy land of communism.’"

On the 24th, Kwon said through his social media (SNS), "Isn't it because Democratic Party politicians in the Gwangju area made a historical evaluation that they pushed for commemorative facilities?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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Kwon pointed out, "We should commemorate proud figures, so why honor collaborators with invaders?" He added, "There is Jeong Yul-seong Road in Yangnim-dong, and Jeong Yul-seong's birthplace is preserved. At Neungju Elementary School, there are Jeong Yul-seong murals, the Jeong Yul-seong Music Festival, and even the Jeong Yul-seong Children's Song Contest. The local broadcasting station even produced a documentary on Jeong Yul-seong."

He further criticized, "The fact that Gwangju City has long conducted commemorative projects related to Jeong Yul-seong does not justify these projects. Rather, it should be ashamed. The Democratic Party, which controls local governments and councils, made an unwise historical evaluation of Jeong Yul-seong and, based on that, promoted and supported various commemorative projects."

He then questioned, "At this point, shouldn't this be considered idolization of Jeong Yul-seong? Among the proud figures selected by Mayor Kang, is there anyone so highly revered?"

Regarding claims from some quarters that criticism of Jeong Yul-seong amounts to 'discrimination against Honam' or 'anti-China sentiment,' he said, "When politicians are criticized for wrong decisions, they should accept it. Why use the voters who elected them as a shield? How can commemorating a collaborator with invaders with taxpayers' money be linked to anti-China sentiment?"

Lee also stated on SNS, "Is the image of Gwangju that Mayor Kang wants to create a ‘holy land of democratization’ or a ‘holy land of communism’?" He added, "We cannot help but condemn the mayor of Gwangju for promoting a figure praised as a communist hero in China and North Korea as the face of Gwangju, planning to create commemorative streets, historical parks, and memorial halls."

Kim Woong, a People Power Party member, posted on SNS titled 'Comedy Genius Mayor Kang Ki-jung,' saying, "If a Jeong Yul-seong Park is created in Gwangju, the holy land of democratization, soon a second Kang Ki-jung will emerge and say, ‘Since there is a Jeong Yul-seong Park, why not a Kim Il-sung Park?’" He added, "You wrote, ‘If you look at the world through ideological colored glasses, the world appears in two colors, ‘enemy and me.’’ But looking through ideological colored glasses, a collaborator in the national conflict becomes an object of admiration."

Earlier, Mayor Kang emphasized the necessity of the 'Jeong Yul-seong Historical Park' through SNS, saying, "If you look at the world through ideological colored glasses, the world appears in two colors, ‘enemy and me.’ Thanks to his achievements as an outstanding musician, many Chinese tourists visit Gwangju. In the heart of Berlin, Germany, there are still statues of Marx and Engels and a Marx Street."

In another SNS post, he said, "The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs should stop the controversy over Jeong Yul-seong and wisely leave the evaluation and merits to history."

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