Choi Min-hee Refutes Grandmother Lee Yong-soo's Allegations: "Donations Can't Buy Meals"
Continued Criticism from United Party... Kim Geun-sik Calls It "Sophistry" · Hwang Gyu-hwan Says "Distorts True Intentions"
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Former Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Min-hee sparked controversy on the 26th by saying about comfort women victim Lee Yong-soo (92), "Honestly, I can't understand why she shows such strong aversion to Yoon Mi-hyang, the Democratic Party elected member, becoming a member of the National Assembly." The United Future Party has raised its voice in criticism, calling Choi's claim "nonsense sophistry."
On the same day, Choi appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said, "Are all people who become members of the National Assembly selfish, or does it mean that the individual Yoon Mi-hyang should never become a member of the National Assembly? There will be many tasks to do in the National Assembly to resolve the comfort women issue, so honestly, I don't quite understand this grandmother's feelings of resentment."
She added, "We all need to broaden our perspective a bit regarding the aversion to members of the National Assembly," and said, "If the grandmother were a bit younger, it would have been good for her to directly enter the National Assembly and work on resolving this issue."
Choi also explained regarding the grandmother's recent press conference statement that "after fundraising, she was hungry and asked Yoon, the elected member, to buy her something delicious, but was refused," saying, "If someone says to eat with money raised by civic groups, the expenditure cannot be made."
She said, "That donation money cannot be used," and added, "In such cases, it would be appropriate for Yoon to actually buy it with her own money."
When the interview became controversial, she clarified on her Facebook that day, saying, "Do not distort my remarks."
Choi stated, "I did not say 'I don't understand this grandmother.' I said, 'I don't understand the grandmother's aversion to Yoon becoming a member of the National Assembly. If this grandmother were younger, it would have been good for her to become a member of the National Assembly and help resolve the comfort women issue.'"
Grandmother Lee Yong-soo (92), a victim of the Japanese military sexual slavery, is holding a press conference on the afternoon of the 25th at the Inter-Burgo Hotel in Manchon-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Despite her clarification, the controversy has not subsided. The United Future Party has raised its voice in criticism, calling Choi's claim "sophistry."
Kim Geun-sik, professor of political science and diplomacy at Gyeongnam National University (former United Future Party candidate for Seoul Songpa-byeong), targeted Choi who defended Yoon, saying, "Pro-government mouthpieces are spouting nonsense sophistry."
He wrote on his Facebook, "Choi shields by saying that meals cannot be bought for individuals with civic group fundraising money, which is really absurd," and pointed out, "If they had struggled to bring the grandmother to the fundraising event that day, it is common sense to treat her to a warm meal even with personal funds. It is clear that Yoon was a cold person who dragged the grandmother around and cruelly refused her request to buy a meal."
He continued, "Wrong is wrong and incorrect is incorrect," and raised his voice, "Why do they lie and desperately counter with sophistry and muddy the issue when they think it is unfavorable to their camp?"
Hwang Gyu-hwan, deputy spokesperson of the United Future Party, also released a statement that day, pouring criticism on Choi. He said, "Yoon remains silent, and the Democratic Party continues to insist on 'fact-checking first,' while some pro-government figures are rather attempting to distort and belittle this grandmother's sincerity."
He added, "Choi said about the grandmother's press conference, 'Honestly, I don't understand it. She is applying a harsh standard,' mentioning the word 'harsh,' which is completely wrong even if the subject is wrong," and said, "Those who try to distort this grandmother's sincerity, those who belittle her pain to achieve their goals, and those who ignore even her wounds to protect their own safety are no different from Yoon, who has caused further wounds to the grandmothers who endured the irreparable pain of history with their whole bodies.
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