Kim Nam-guk Targets Commoners "You Are Getting Older, Please Be Careful"

300 Wreaths Supporting Yoon Seok-yeol in Front of the Prosecutor General's Office
Kim Nam-guk: "Citizen Safety Issue... Must Be Removed Immediately"
Seo Min: "Thanks for Warning About Fallen Leaves Danger... Should Ban Going Out" Mockery

Kim Nam-guk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is questioning at the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Justice, Supreme Court, Board of Audit and Inspection, Constitutional Court, and Ministry of Government Legislation held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the morning of the 26th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Professor Seo Min from Dankook University College of Medicine and Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-guk are continuing an online dispute over the wreath supporting Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol placed in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

On the 29th, Lawmaker Kim pointed out to Professor Seo, "Since you are older and teach students at the university, I hope you would be more careful."

This was in response to Professor Seo's sarcastic remark after Lawmaker Kim criticized the wreath the day before, saying, "A citizen almost got injured slipping on a fallen leaf, so remove the wreath in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office immediately." Seo said, "Thank you for informing us about the danger of fallen leaves. Let's issue a stay-at-home order in November."

Earlier, Lawmaker Kim shared a report on Facebook the previous day, saying, "I received a tip from a citizen this morning," and shared the post. The shared post stated, "This morning, while passing in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong, I almost slipped after stepping on a leaf fallen from the wreath." In response, Lawmaker Kim criticized, "Considering citizens' inconvenience and safety, the wreath in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office is very inappropriate."

Photo by Namguk Kim, captured from the Facebook page of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Professor Seo, seeing this, mocked on Facebook the same day, saying, "According to Landscape Architect Lawmaker Kim Nam-guk, a citizen almost got seriously injured after stepping on a leaf fallen from the wreath sent by supporters of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol," and added, "A stay-at-home order in November is necessary."

Professor Seo said, "Everyone, leaves are this dangerous," and continued, "Since fallen leaves fall like mushrooms in November, it is expected that an unimaginable number of injuries will occur due to this. Therefore, the government should designate November as the 'Fallen Leaf Danger Period' and completely ban citizens from going out. I deeply 'prosecute' Lawmaker Kim Nam-guk for informing us about the danger of fallen leaves."

Later, Lawmaker Kim wrote on Facebook that day, "I appreciate Professor Seo's SNS (social networking service) post," adding, "The issue of the wreath in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office was not well known, but thanks to Professor Seo, it has been widely publicized through the media."

He continued, "I have something to ask. It is good to criticize freely. Satire and sarcasm may be one of the methods. However, I hope it does not go too far like some people."

He added, "If you keep sneering and mocking, people watching will come to hate and avoid politics," and said, "Since you are older and teach students at the university, I hope you would be more careful."

Meanwhile, this year, Lawmaker Kim is 38 years old, and Professor Seo is 53 years old. Lawmaker Kim has supported former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, while Professor Seo is one of the authors of the 'Cho Kuk Black Book,' which criticizes former Minister Cho.