Seomin: "Choo's son is An Jung-geun, Yoon Mi-hyang is Yu Gwan-sun... A country where anyone becomes a hero"

Park Seong-jun, Floor Spokesperson, Controversy Over Comment on "Soldier An Jung-geun's Practice"

Professor Seomin, Dankook University College of Medicine.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] On the 17th, Professor Seo Min of Dankook University sarcastically commented on the Democratic Party of Korea comparing Seo Mo (27), the son of Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, who is under suspicion of receiving special favors during military service, to the patriotic martyr Ahn Jung-geun, saying, "This is a country where anyone can become a great person."

In a blog post titled '[Advice] Let's not sanctify Ahn Jung-geun' published that day, Professor Seo criticized, "Perhaps this could be considered an achievement of the current government. Except for ultra-elite figures like Cho Kuk, the government's goal has been to strip privileges from everyone else and create 'a country where anyone can become a great person.'"

Earlier, Park Sung-jun, the Democratic Party floor spokesperson, sparked controversy by stating in a commentary that Seo, who is embroiled in allegations of receiving special military leave, "personally embodied the words of Ahn Jung-geun, who said 'It is the duty of a soldier to dedicate his body for the country (爲國獻身 軍人本分).'"

Professor Seo pointed out, "The claim that going to the military despite knee pain is the embodiment of that duty is a statement too fitting for the Democratic Party floor spokesperson, who is united by the conviction of 'defending our side unconditionally even if they betray the country.'"

He continued sarcastically, "I believe Seo is by no means inferior when compared to Ahn Jung-geun; in fact, he is a more outstanding figure. Your son has achieved military reform that had not been possible for 60 years by enabling soldiers to extend their leave with just a phone call, and he elicited the response 'The essence is prosecutorial reform' from Choo Mi-ae's former aide, making the entire nation call for prosecutorial reform."

He added, "It was also thanks to him that we learned that the whistleblower, previously regarded as courageous, was actually a 'lone offender' who must be caught and punished. Think about it. Even a great person like Ahn Jung-geun should not just be placed on a high pedestal and revered; wouldn't it be better to inspire the dream that anyone can become an Ahn Jung-geun through effort?"

Professor Seo said, "The more touching part is that President Moon Jae-in, the highest authority of the current government, personally practiced this. He appointed close associates to key positions without discrimination despite their corruption, which exactly matches the insight of King Sejong, who appointed Jang Yeong-sil and others, and creating the Gwangheungchang team to control state affairs is like Sejong establishing the Jiphyeonjeon to lead scholarship."

Professor Seo also satirized current government officials by comparing them to historical Korean figures.

Regarding Yoon Mee-hyang, a Democratic Party lawmaker indicted on charges including embezzlement of public donations intended for comfort women, he said, "Representative Yoon is like Yu Gwan-sun. Just as Yu Gwan-sun was imprisoned for waving the Taegeukgi and shouting for Korean independence, Representative Yoon is now at risk of imprisonment due to pro-Japanese forces' upheaval after making money by fronting for the 'comfort women' who suffered under the Japanese military."

About Democratic Party lawmakers Jung Chung-rae and Kim Nam-guk, he said, "General Gyebaek led 5,000 determined soldiers to face tens of thousands of Silla troops and died heroically. Representatives Jung and Kim heroically became a laughingstock by defending Minister Choo with novel logic against tens of millions of deep-rooted evils," calling them "General Gyebaek who led the Baekje determined soldiers."

Regarding Democratic Party lawmakers Hwang Un-ha, Lee Jae-jung, and Park Joo-min, who caused controversy by posting smiling photos on social media during the floods in Daejeon and other central and southern regions in July, he compared them to General Eulji Mundeok of Goguryeo, saying, "When the Tang army invaded, Eulji Mundeok fought a water battle at Salsu, but these people laughed uproariously while watching TV reports of the flood in Daejeon."

Finally, Professor Seo suggested, "Let's have a debate comparing current government officials to historical great figures, such as 'Cho Kuk is like Jo Gwang-jo' or 'Hwang Hee suits Non Gae better than Prime Minister Hwang Hee.' This way, we can study history and perhaps cultivate some semblance of dignity in our politics."