"Criticism Pours In: 'Dangjeongcheong All Have Extremist Mindsets'"
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon attended the National Assembly Steering Committee plenary session on the 13th and strongly criticized Chief of Staff to the Blue House Noh Young-min for engaging in a heated exchange with opposition lawmakers over his description of the main organizers of the August 15 Gwanghwamun rally as 'murderers.'
At the plenary session of the National Assembly Steering Committee that day, Chief Noh raised his voice, saying, "I never called the people murderers," and called it "fake news." He was rebutting opposition lawmakers who asked whether there was no change in his stance on calling the people murderers.
Earlier, during the Blue House audit by the National Assembly Steering Committee on the 4th, Chief Noh had strongly criticized the main organizers of the August 15 Gwanghwamun rally, saying, "They are not thieves but murderers, these rally organizers."
Regarding this, former professor Jin strongly criticized on his Facebook post on the 13th, saying, "The ruling party, government, and Blue House are all going crazy," and "Their mindset seems extremist."
No Young-min, Chief of Staff to the President, is attending the full meeting of the National Assembly Steering Committee on the 13th and responding to lawmakers' questions. / Photo by Yonhap News
He also pointed out, "If the rally organizers are not the people, does that mean they were foreigners?"
On the same day, Kim Geun-sik, professor at Gyeongnam National University and head of the People Power Party’s Songpa-byeong district in Seoul, also criticized Chief Noh’s remarks in the same vein. On Facebook, he asked, "Are the rally organizers not the people? Are only the participants the people, and the organizers foreigners or aliens?" and questioned, "Is it okay to call the organizers murderers?"
He continued, "At the time, Chief Noh himself apologized immediately, saying the expression was excessive, so if the murderer remark is fake news, why did he apologize?" and pointed out, "They say the November 14 People's Rally will be held safely with fewer than 100 people following quarantine rules, but is there no such trust for the anti-government rally on National Foundation Day?"
Meanwhile, at the National Assembly Steering Committee that day, Kim Sung-won, a People Power Party lawmaker, referred to the nationwide rally planned by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) on the 14th and asked Chief Noh, "If you respond passively, how will you deal with the aftermath later?"
In response, Chief Noh said, "I will strongly push for banning the rally," and added, "If confirmed cases or deaths occur because the administrative order from the quarantine authorities is not followed, criticism will be unavoidable."
When Lawmaker Kim asked again, "What kind of criticism are you talking about?" Chief Noh raised his voice, saying, "Are you telling me to use the expression I said was excessive again?"
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
