In 2004, Joo Ho-young, People Power Party Floor Leader, Portrayed 'Nogari' as Roh Moo-hyun in a Play
Lines in the Play Included Vivid Mockery of Former President Roh, Sparking Political Controversy
Democrats: "Joo Ho-young Mocked Roh Moo-hyun... Now He Is Crying"
Park Geun-hye, then leader of the Grand National Party (predecessor of the People Power Party), is seen laughing heartily with elderly villagers on the afternoon of August 28, 2004, at the rural experience village in Bongjo-ri, Ogok-myeon, Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do, while watching a performance by the Yeouido Theater Group composed of Grand National Party lawmakers. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] On the 30th, the Democratic Party of Korea urged Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, to apologize for his remarks mentioning former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, stating that "the Republic of Korea's republican system is collapsing." In particular, they intensified criticism by referring to the time in 2004 when Joo, then a member of the Grand National Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party), mocked former President Roh through a play.
Chief Spokesperson Choi In-ho issued a statement that morning, saying, "Floor Leader Joo, who is shaking the constitutional order with excessive abusive language, must apologize immediately."
Choi criticized, "Yesterday, Floor Leader Joo said, 'There will be a situation where the people do not recognize the president,' crossing the line with his words. He even shamelessly said that the Republic of Korea's republican system would collapse, fundamentally shaking the constitutional order. It is not only shocking but also tragic."
He particularly pointed out Joo's participation in the 2004 play 'Hwansaeng Gyeongje' (還生經濟), which mocked former President Roh, saying, "Who does the person who hurled all sorts of insults, belittled, and mocked former President Roh Moo-hyun at that time dare to mention now?"
He continued, "Is it appropriate to mention the two former presidents as a means to attack President Moon Jae-in?" and "We urge you to immediately stop the political maneuvering that drives the political situation into deadlock, causes national confusion, and seeks mere political gain."
Members of the Grand National Party (currently the People Power Party) are performing a Hwan-saeng Economy show. [Image source=Yonhap News]
◆ What is the 2004 Grand National Party play 'Hwansaeng Gyeongje' about?
The play 'Hwansaeng Gyeongje' mentioned by Chief Spokesperson Choi was performed by the Grand National Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) in August 2004 in Gokseong, Jeollanam-do. The play was prepared by 'Yeouido Theater Troupe,' composed of Grand National Party lawmakers. The main content depicts a father named 'Nogari,' who is always drunk, unable to come to his senses even though his son 'Gyeongje' died from acquired nutritional deficiency.
In this play, which criticizes former President Roh for failing to properly manage the economy, Floor Leader Joo played the role of 'Nogari,' a satire of former President Roh.
In the play, the Grim Reaper decides to take the father after three years in exchange for reincarnating the son 'Gyeongje.' Villagers shout that the dead son 'Gyeongje' has come back to life. The lawmakers acting in the play insulted former President Roh with terms like "Nogari," "YukXhul guy," and "GaeX guy," causing a major controversy at the time for insulting the then-incumbent President Roh Moo-hyun.
At that time, former President Park Geun-hye, who was the leader of the Grand National Party, also watched the play with the lawmakers. The ruling party, Uri Party (now the Democratic Party of Korea), expressed strong regret and officially demanded an apology. However, the Grand National Party rebutted, saying, "It is just a play," and dismissed the controversy by stating, "It is not a proper cultural attitude to criticize the entire play based on a few lines."
Ruling party figures at the time continuously called for an apology regarding the play. Shortly after the play was released, Moon Sung-geun, former Supreme Council member of the Democratic United Party (now the Democratic Party of Korea), criticized, "Look at how the Grand National Party lawmakers portrayed former President Roh Moo-hyun in the play 'Hwansaeng Gyeongje.'"
Professor Cho Ki-sook of Ewha Womans University, who served as the Chief Secretary for Public Relations at the Presidential Secretariat during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, also urged, "The Democratic Party should demand the resignation of the candidate who laughed while making sexually violent remarks about President Roh in 'Hwansaeng Gyeongje.'"
Meanwhile, on the 29th, Floor Leader Joo posted on his Facebook, saying, "Please think again about President Moon Jae-in. Is that the path you want to take?" and "Former Presidents Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung, and former President Roh Moo-hyun, who calmly accepted the prosecution's investigation, are crying."
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