The Democratic Party Keeps Looking Back

Concerns Raised Over Recurrence of Open Uri Party Crisis Amid Past Issues Like Han Myeong-sook Bribery Allegations and KAL Plane Terrorism

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] The Democratic Party of Korea, holding a majority of seats as a 'super ruling party' and pushing for reform, is facing concerns that it might be repeating the Open Uri Party incident as individual lawmakers raise past history issues that lead to continuous controversies. Democratic Party lawmakers and 21st National Assembly elected members have been presenting past history issues such as former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook's bribery allegations, the exhumation of pro-Japanese collaborators' graves at the National Cemetery, demands for re-investigation of the KAL plane bombing, and the lifting of the May 24 measures.

Democratic Party lawmakers Kim Byung-gi and Lee Su-jin, who announced plans to exhume the graves of pro-Japanese collaborators located in the National Cemetery, have brought the issue of 'pro-Japanese collaborators buried in the National Cemetery' back to the surface. On the 24th, Lee attended an event at the National Seoul Cemetery and said, "It is appropriate to exhume pro-Japanese collaborators from the National Cemetery to set history right," adding, "After seeing it, I thought that a law to exhume the pro-Japanese collaborators' burial sites should also be created."

Democratic Party lawmaker Song Young-gil has called for the lifting of the May 24 measures. The May 24 measures are North Korea sanctions introduced by the Lee Myung-bak administration in response to the Cheonan incident, primarily blocking inter-Korean trade and support projects. On the same day, Song posted on his Facebook, "The May 24 measures, which have lost their effectiveness, should be lifted, and the sky and sea routes severed by islands on the Korean Peninsula should be reconnected." Although there is an interpretation that the measures have effectively lost their impact, raising the issue of their repeal at this time could provoke backlash from the political sphere and the families of the Cheonan victims. It could also become a burden in relations with the U.S. and North Korea.

The Democratic Party previously brought up the card of re-investigating former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook's bribery case in connection with Newstapa's exclusive report on the 'Han Man-ho memorandum.' This sparked opposition from the legal community and opposition parties.

Additionally, on the 25th, Democratic Party Supreme Council member Seol Hoon brought up the KAL plane bombing case in a radio interview. Seol said, "I think the party, government, and Blue House need to look into this issue together," and demanded a re-investigation, stating, "In 2007, during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, a search of the wreckage was attempted, but the influence of the Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo regimes was at play."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Concerns have been raised that the party might be repeating the Open Uri Party incident as lawmakers individually push a comprehensive past history drive from the Japanese colonial period to recent times. During the 17th general election, the Open Uri Party secured a majority with 152 seats. Riding this momentum, the party pursued the 'Four Major Reform Legislations (National Security Law, Private School Act, Past History Act, Media Relations Act).' However, it was criticized for being mired in ideologically driven issues. Combined with strong individual lawmakers' convictions and factional conflicts within the party, it ultimately lost in the 17th presidential election and the 18th general election.

The opposition's backlash is also a significant factor. Hwang Gyu-hwan, deputy spokesperson of the United Future Party, said in a statement that day, "Before the 21st National Assembly, which has high expectations for communication and cooperation, even begins, the Democratic Party is deceiving the public as if it has hidden evidence," adding, "Soon, they might even call for a re-investigation of the Imjin War." Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People's Party, also stated at the Supreme Council meeting on the same day regarding the call for re-investigation of former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook's bribery case, "They must immediately stop attempts to overturn the substantive truth of former Prime Minister Han's trial by using political power."