"The Moon Goes to Yeongchang~" Controversy Over People Power Party's Holiday Banner

Opposition's Daejeon Holiday Banner Saying 'The Moon Goes to Yeongchang'
Lyrics from a German Lullaby... Could Be Interpreted as Presidential Insult
Kim Soyeon: "A Warm Holiday Wish"

A banner posted in the Daejeon constituency by Kim So-yeon, head of the Daejeon party committee of the People Power Party. Below the phrase "Warm hearts this Hangawi," the lyrics "The moon goes to the military prison" are written. / Photo by Facebook capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Kim So-yeon, the head of the People Power Party’s Daejeon Yuseong district committee, is facing controversy over a holiday banner in her constituency that includes the phrase "달님은 영창으로" ("The moon goes to the window").

On the 26th, Kim posted a draft of the holiday banner on her Facebook, saying, "Starting tonight, the banners will be posted throughout the constituency," and added, "Wishing a happy holiday to crayfish, crucian carp, and frogs alike."

The banner features the phrase "Warm hearts this Chuseok" with the lyrics "달님은 영창으로" ("The moon goes to the window") underneath. These lyrics are part of the German song "Mozart’s Lullaby," where 영창 (映窓) means "window."

However, some have criticized the banner as "malicious." While it could simply be lyrics from a song, there is room for interpretation that it insults President Moon Jae-in. The term "달님" ("moon") is known to refer to President Moon among some pro-Moon (pro-Moon Jae-in) groups. Additionally, 영창 (營倉) is a homonym meaning a military prison.

Some pro-government netizens criticized the banner, saying it "crosses the line," is "vulgar and low-class," "an insult to the head of state," and questioned, "Can this party still be called the main opposition?" One netizen even said they would file a complaint with the district office to have the banner removed.

On the other hand, some argued that the phrase was "overinterpreted as a Chuseok greeting." One netizen wrote on the social networking service (SNS) Twitter, "While it can be maliciously interpreted, these are actual lyrics from a German lullaby." Another said, "I also often heard this children’s song since I was young."

As the controversy grew, Kim posted on Facebook on the 27th, saying, "What insult to the head of state? People are overreacting," and explained, "The song is a warm holiday greeting, but people have very vivid imaginations."

However, she added, "Regardless of the reason, if I apologize twice to excited supporters, will I become an 'enlightened monarch' too?" Previously, Yoo Si-min, director of the People’s Life Foundation and former Democratic Party member, described North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s apology letter on a YouTube broadcast on the 25th as "good news," and said, "Kim’s leadership style feels like that of an enlightened monarch."

Meanwhile, Kim, a former lawyer, was elected as a member of the Daejeon Metropolitan Council in 2018 as a member of the Democratic Party. However, she was expelled after exposing that Democratic Party lawmaker Park Beom-gye’s camp demanded illegal political funds in exchange for election support. Afterwards, Kim switched her party affiliation to the People Power Party (then the United Future Party) and ran in the 21st general election but was defeated.