"Statements That Hinder Integration" vs "Talking About the Ways of the World"
[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Controversy erupted in the political sphere over the ‘pardon remarks’ made by Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party. Although the remarks were based on the principle of putting oneself in another’s shoes, criticism arose that they instead threatened the president and the ruling party, resulting in a counterproductive effect that makes pardoning former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye more difficult.
People Power Party Floor Leader Joo Ho-young is speaking at the People Power Party Floor Countermeasure Meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 19th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the 20th, 강훈식 (Kang Hoon-sik), a Democratic Party lawmaker, and 성일종 (Sung Il-jong), a People Power Party lawmaker, appeared on CBS Radio’s ‘Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show’ and engaged in a heated debate over Floor Leader Joo’s remarks.
Joo referred to President Moon Jae-in’s New Year press conference during the previous day’s floor strategy meeting, saying, "Even a sitting president eventually becomes a former president over time. Once they become former presidents, they might be subject to pardons. I always expect an attitude of putting oneself in another’s shoes."
Regarding this, Kang evaluated, "Ironically, isn’t Floor Leader Joo the one making pardons the furthest away?" He pointed out, "If you want national unity, you cannot persuade the public with logic that threatens the sitting president by saying, ‘You could also be subject to pardon,’ and at the same time ask for pardons for presidents from our government. Saying this is very detrimental to national unity."
Kang also mentioned that Floor Leader Joo was not nominated during former President Park’s era, criticizing, "He is blocking it out of resentment."
On the other hand, Sung said, "If the history of presidents going to prison repeats just because the regime has changed, the people will be tired and unhappy," adding, "The ruling party’s offensive on pardons has been so strong that I was just stating the logic of the world."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
