Woo Won-sik "Elevating Far-Right Forces to 3.1 Manse Movement Ancestors"
Jin Sung-jun "Are They Responding to Far-Right Hands?"
Kim Jong-in Emphasizes 'Patriotism' at Emergency Committee Meeting, Urges Restraint in Rallies
"Controlled Anger Will Garner Greater Support," He Stresses
Woo Won-sik, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at a press conference held on the afternoon of July 13 at the National Assembly Communication Hall regarding the bill for tax reductions on education, medical expenses, and rent for self-employed individuals to overcome the COVID-19 national crisis. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, urged some conservative groups who announced a rally on October 3rd, National Foundation Day, to "postpone" the event, likening the rally to the 'March 1st Movement.' This drew criticism from ruling party lawmakers.
On the 10th, Woo Won-shik, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, wrote on his Facebook, "When the People Power Party demanded a break from far-right forces to protect the lives and safety of the people, Chairman Kim Jong-in instead elevated the far-right forces to the status of ancestors who participated in the March 1st Independence Movement."
He continued, "The Spanish flu, which broke out in Europe in the 1910s, spread in Korean territory through the Dongmanju Railway, which Japan connected between Korea and Manchuria for continental invasion," pointing out, "The South Manchuria Railway symbolizes Japanese invasion and is a railway for transporting infectious diseases."
He added, "The people who gathered from all over the country to attend the recent Gwanghwamun rally dispersed nationwide again, becoming the starting point of a pandemic. The Gwanghwamun rally is like the second South Manchuria Railway," and criticized, "If those people gather again for the National Foundation Day rally, it would be the third South Manchuria Railway. How can they be ancestors of the March 1st Movement?"
Jin Sung-jun, from the same party, also wrote on Facebook, "What kind of reckless remark is it to compare the COVID-19 terrorist forces that destroy the Republic of Korea and threaten the nation's survival to the ancestors of the March 1st Movement?" and questioned, "Are they 'ancestors who risked death with patriotism alone and participated in the March 1st Movement'?"
He added, "The ancestors who built today's Republic of Korea are weeping underground," and urged, "Is the main opposition party responding again to the gestures of the far right? Chairman Kim must kneel and apologize to the people."
Lee Hak-young said, "At a time when mass gatherings are banned to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections, what is Chairman Kim's intention in praising the far-right group's National Foundation Day rally by comparing it to the March 1st Movement?" and questioned, "You said you would cut ties with the far-right group, but are you trying to flatter them? Is it a patriotic rally, but you want them to stop a little?"
Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is adjusting his mask while attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 10th. / Photo by Yonhap News
Meanwhile, Chairman Kim urged conservative groups to refrain from holding the National Foundation Day rally during the Emergency Committee meeting held at the National Assembly that day. Kim said, "This is a critical moment to determine whether the entire nation will unite to overcome the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) or collapse," and appealed, "I earnestly ask. At this moment of uncertainty about tomorrow, please postpone the rally and stand with your neighbors and the people."
On the same day, he also encouraged and tried to persuade those pushing for the rally by saying he was reminded of "ancestors who participated in the March 1st Movement." Kim said, "In 1919, even amid the panic caused by the Spanish flu that killed 130,000 of our compatriots and threw the entire country into chaos, I am deeply moved thinking of the ancestors who risked death with patriotism alone and participated in the March 1st Movement," and added, "As someone involved in politics, I also feel sorry."
He continued, "The memories of this administration's unfairness and national governance failure, deeply engraved in the minds of all citizens, will never be erased," and emphasized, "Your restrained anger will receive more support and sympathy and mature among the people."
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