Y Party Deputy Spokesperson: "Have You Forgotten the Dark History of Collusion Between Politics and Business... Samsung Eocheonga Makes Me Sick"

Deputy Spokesperson Park Jin-young. Photo by Deputy Spokesperson Park Jin-young

[Asia Economy Reporter Jumi Lee] As calls for a pardon for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong are rising, Park Jin-young, deputy spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed opposition to the pardon, saying, "I feel like vomiting because of the 'Samsung Eocheonga' (Samsung's praise song)."

On the 29th, Deputy Spokesperson Park said this through his Facebook, calling it a "typical claim of no punishment for the privileged."

Park criticized the recent payment of one of the world's highest inheritance taxes by the Samsung family, saying, "Is it such a great thing to pay the inheritance tax that must legally be paid? Why is Samsung's inheritance tax the highest in the world? It means that the Samsung family holds more shares than global companies with higher sales than Samsung." He added, "Have we fundamentally forgotten the dark history of collusion between politics and business, and the exploitation of workers and subcontractors?"

Regarding Samsung's donation of tens of thousands of artworks owned by the late Chairman Lee Kun-hee to national museums, Deputy Spokesperson Park questioned, "Why did they collect so many artworks? Could it have been for tax or inheritance reasons?"

He continued, "Why is the media making such a fuss? Why did the public opinion poll on Lee Jae-yong's pardon suddenly appear?" and argued, "This is different from Park Geun-hye's pardon. Personal corruption and company management should be separated."

He emphasized, "Did the media inciting the 'Samsung Eocheonga' and Lee Jae-yong's pardon receive concentrated advertising? Since the private sector is struggling, if there are smart lawmakers, I hope they would at least inquire about recent changes in Samsung's advertising volume in public broadcasting. I am completely against Lee Jae-yong's pardon."

Meanwhile, Deputy Spokesperson Park was previously embroiled in controversy for using vulgar language, claiming that opposition candidates were making ridiculous pledges for the April 7 by-elections for a one-year mayoral term. Last year, he also engaged in a heated exchange with former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon, comparing him to Ye Hyung, a character from the historical novel Three Kingdoms who was killed by harsh criticism.