Intensified Conflict Between Ruling and Opposition Parties Over Condolence Bill... Police Chief Confirmation Hearing Dispute Anticipated

Controversy Over the Burial of the Late General Baek Seon-yeop at the National Cemetery

On the 13th, when the funeral ceremony of the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon was solemnly held, the mayor's remains were being transported from the Seoul City Hall funeral hall to the memorial park. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The National Assembly has once again rapidly frozen due to the sexual harassment allegations against the late Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul, and the controversy over the burial of the late General Baek Seon-yeop in the National Cemetery. Coincidentally, the overlapping sad news at a similar time has intensified the conflict. After Mayor Park's funeral on the 13th, the opposition party's hardline stance is expected to become more pronounced, and confrontations are anticipated at the confirmation hearing for Kim Chang-ryong, the nominee for Commissioner of the National Police Agency, scheduled a week later.

The Democratic Party of Korea has maintained that it is inappropriate to raise sexual harassment allegations during the ongoing funeral proceedings. On the day of the funeral, Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan mourned, saying, "The path the deceased walked and the achievements he made, from a human rights lawyer to a civic activist and then Mayor of Seoul, were immense," adding, "He was a person as pure and modest as his passion was great, so his final journey is deeply painful and sorrowful." Leader Lee also showed anger toward a reporter who asked questions related to the sexual harassment allegations at the funeral hall.

Immediately after Mayor Park's sudden death, the United Future Party showed caution in their remarks, but over time they have emphasized protecting the accuser and clarifying the allegations. Over the weekend, the United Future Party defined holding a Seoul Metropolitan City funeral (葬) as "the Democratic Party's official harm to the victim."

Although the police concluded with "no prosecution," demands for political investigation continue. The United Future Party is expected to focus their questioning at the confirmation hearing for Kim Chang-ryong, scheduled for the 20th. They argue that even without prosecution rights, it is necessary to hear the nominee's stance on how to handle the already filed accusations as the head of the police agency.

There have also been opinions advocating continued investigation, citing Lee Chun-jae in the Hwaseong serial murder case. United Future Party lawmaker Kwon Young-se said on Facebook on the 11th, "The sexual harassment report against former Mayor Park should be continuously investigated for truth-finding, just like the Lee Chun-jae case," adding, "One side?either the victim or former Mayor Park (or his bereaved family)?will suffer tremendous damage by remaining unresolved. For a figure like former Mayor Park, who will be remembered in our society for some time, an accurate evaluation is necessary for future generations."

Meanwhile, United Future Party floor spokesperson Bae Hyun-jin reignited the controversy by bringing up suspicions about Mayor Park's son, Park Joo-shin's military service. From the Democratic Party's perspective, this issue has been sufficiently clarified after long struggles, and they are demanding an apology, saying it is "against propriety" to raise it again during the mourning period.

Democratic Party spokesperson Song Gap-seok stated on the 12th, "There is no second trial as mentioned by floor spokesperson Bae. The charges of violating military service law against Park Joo-shin were dismissed as 'no charges' in 2013," adding, "The ongoing trial is not a second trial involving Park himself but a trial related to charges of violating the Public Official Election Act against those who raised suspicions of military service corruption." In response, spokesperson Bae rebutted on Facebook the same day, saying, "The appeal trial is currently underway, and the second trial court sent multiple witness summonses to Park, who is residing in the UK through international judicial cooperation, but he did not appear," adding, "The military service law violation accusation against Park Joo-shin, filed by about 1,000 citizens in 2015, is also currently under appeal at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office."

The controversy over General Baek Seon-yeop's burial in the National Cemetery is showing signs of turning into an ideological battle. Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman of the United Future Party, said at a meeting that day, "Seeing the political circles argue about General Baek's burial site makes me question whether our country is a normal nation," adding, "He made remarkable contributions to saving the country at the brink during the Korean War. It is difficult to understand and deeply regrettable that there is debate over deciding his burial site." United Future Party floor leader Joo Ho-young insists that he should be buried in the Dongjak-dong National Cemetery in Seoul, not the Daejeon National Cemetery.

The Democratic Party has not made any significant statements beyond condolences but has already proposed bills banning the burial of individuals with pro-Japanese backgrounds in the national cemetery. This could reignite ideological conflicts similar to the so-called 'Foundation Day' controversy, which arose over whether to commemorate the Shanghai Provisional Government or the founding of the Republic of Korea.