Criticism Leaflet Sent 30s to Prosecution... Opposition United in "Must Withdraw Complaint"
President Moon: "If Criticizing the Powerful Relieves Public Mood, It's a Good Thing"... Contradicts Past Statements
Experts: "President Must Endure Criticism"
President Moon Jae-in attending the Blue House Cabinet meeting on the 27th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News.
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] It has sparked controversy that a man in his 30s, Kim, who distributed leaflets criticizing President Moon Jae-in and ruling party figures two years ago, was recently sent to the prosecution without detention on charges of defamation. It has been confirmed that President Moon filed a complaint against Kim through a representative in connection with this case.
The opposition parties are urging the withdrawal of the complaint against Kim. They argue that it is an excessive measure for the head of state of a country to file a lawsuit against an ordinary citizen. On the other hand, some claim that strong punishment is necessary for crimes involving the dissemination of false information.
Experts pointed out that the president's lawsuit against a citizen could infringe on freedom of expression.
According to reports, the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul recently sent Kim to the prosecution on charges of defamation against President Moon. Kim is known to have distributed leaflets near the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, in July 2019, claiming that the ancestors of President Moon and former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, among opposition figures, were pro-Japanese collaborators.
The back of the leaflet reportedly contained an obscene Japanese image along with the phrase "The dog of North Korea, the bright red identity of Korean President Moon Jae-in." The police considered this phrase to constitute defamation and applied the charges accordingly.
The police initially did not disclose who filed the complaint against Kim, but some speculated that since defamation is a crime that requires a complaint from the victim or their legal representative to prosecute, the action against Kim was likely at the president's will.
In this regard, the Blue House recently told the media that the content of the leaflet was at an unacceptable level and confirmed that President Moon proceeded with the complaint through a representative.
The opposition parties have called on President Moon to withdraw the defamation complaint. On the 3rd, Seong Il-jong, a member of the People Power Party, demanded at an emergency meeting at the National Assembly, "For the development of democracy and to heal the wounds of despairing youth, the complaint should be reconsidered."
He continued, "The hearts of the people watching this embarrassing situation are uneasy. Please listen to the critical voices of the youth. Return to the spirit that advocated for freedom of the press and democracy. It breaks my heart to hear sounds that lower the nation's dignity."
Kang Min-jin, leader of the Youth Justice Party, also pointed out at the party leadership meeting that day, "In a dictatorship, insulting the president may be a crime, but in a democracy, the position of the president should not be subject to defamation charges."
She added, "The president should be someone whom citizens can freely criticize and even condemn more than anyone else," and criticized, "Regardless of the content distributed, a citizen's lawsuit by the president is inappropriate."
Meanwhile, past remarks by President Moon, who said that criticism of the president should be "endured," have also been highlighted. In August last year, during a meeting with church leaders, President Moon said, "Insulting the president should be allowed as a form of expression. If insulting the president relieves your feelings, that is also a good thing."
Also, during his presidential campaign in February 2017, on JTBC's 'Ssulzun,' when asked, "If you become president, can you endure criticism and condemnation that you cannot accept?" he replied, "You have to endure it. The people have the freedom to criticize those in power. So if the people can relieve their dissatisfaction and find comfort, isn't that a good thing?"
On the other hand, as the harm caused by 'hate speech' is rapidly increasing throughout society, there are also many calls for strong punishment against Kim.
One netizen said, "The leaflet distributed by Kim contained not only insults against the president but also false information that has not been verified. It is not just simple slander," adding, "I believe fake news should never be tolerated."
Experts pointed out concerns that President Moon's actions against Kim could infringe on freedom of expression.
Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon said, "It is very inappropriate for the president to file a lawsuit against an ordinary person. The president must live with criticism, and in a democratic country, freedom of expression must be respected. While personal attacks should be restrained, the president should be able to endure such criticism," he emphasized.
He added, "This could be seen as a kind of double standard," and said, "Recently, there has been controversy over 'text bomb' attacks by hardline supporters within the Democratic Party, but while not mentioning this at all, not tolerating criticism against oneself is contradictory."
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