Yoon: "5·18, the driving force behind establishing a liberal democratic system"
Jung Cheong-rae: "Talking about the spirit of 5·18? UFC might suit you better"
Jo Su-jin: "What do you hope to gain with Moonjuui?"
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 16th, Jeong Cheong-rae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's message related to the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, saying, "Seeing him politically imitate, it seems his political ambition has grown strong." In response, Jo Su-jin, a member of the People Power Party, criticized, "I have once again confirmed how low Jeong's perception is."
On that day, Jeong posted on his Facebook, rhetorically asking former Prosecutor General Yoon, "Do you truly understand the spirit of May 18 democracy? Do you properly know the noble spirit of resistance against Chun Doo-hwan's military dictatorship? Do you know that it is a symbol of democracy in modern Korean history?"
He continued, "The fundamental spirit of democracy is that the owner of the country is the people, and all power comes from the people," adding, "This means that power does not come from the barrel of a gun, nor does power come from the prosecution."
He pointed out, "Among the power institutions of the Republic of Korea, the prosecution is where the most monopolistic power is concentrated and the most unchecked democratic blind spot exists," and said, "The last forbidden land of democracy where power is wielded above the people is the prosecution."
Targeting former Prosecutor General Yoon, Jeong said, "Does a person who resisted prosecution reform as the immediate past Prosecutor General and then resigned have the qualification to talk about the May 18 spirit?" He criticized, "Wouldn't the spirits of the May 18 martyrs rebuke Yoon Seok-yeol's anti-democratic and anti-prosecution reform stance? Know your place before you stretch your legs. This is an insult to the May 18 martyrs."
He added, "Seeing Yoon say a word about May 18 is both inappropriate and laughable," and sarcastically remarked, "Somehow, he seems like a player who doesn't fit in politics and democracy. He looks more suited for UFC."
Furthermore, Jeong said, "He might be scheming here and there, but he doesn't seem to be a character who will succeed as a politician. There is a high chance he will become a second Ban Ki-moon," and added, "I think it is more likely he will leave politics early rather than retire."
Finally, he said, "I understand that political practice and political imitation are necessary, but no matter what, for Yoon Seok-yeol to talk about the spirit of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement is too much. His ambition is excessive."
In response, voices criticizing Jeong came from the opposition party. Jo Su-jin of the People Power Party posted on her Facebook that day, saying, "I once again confirm how absurd and low Jeong's perception is," and added, "The 'Gwangju spirit' that we must nurture and inherit does not tolerate any form of dictatorship or injustice. Military dictatorship is not the only dictatorship."
She continued, "'How can stripping the prosecution of its investigative authority completely through 'complete prosecution investigation removal' (검수완박), which neutralizes the prosecution trying to uncover illegalities of 'mountainous power,' be called 'prosecution reform'?" she raised her voice, "Claiming this as 'reform' and forcing the public to believe it?isn't that dictatorship?"
Jo said, "Trying to crush those who say no to what is not right, and attempting to degrade the legislature into a rubber-stamp body by the power of the number of seats?isn't that dictatorship?" She directly attacked, "Even during the military dictatorship era, election rules were handled by agreement between the ruling and opposition parties. Looking back, the Moon Jae-in administration's identity is indeed dictatorship."
She said, "The 'fake prosecution reform' trampling on fairness and the rule of law, and the 'Moon (文)juism' where President Moon Jae-in reigns over the people, are enemies of 'true democracy,'" and criticized, "To blatantly defend Moonjuism by invoking the May 18 Gwangju spirit?Jeong, this is too much. What does Jeong hope to gain by fiercely defending Moonjuism?"
Earlier, former Prosecutor General Yoon said in a media interview that day, "May 18 is a living history that is still ongoing," and added, "It commands strong rejection and resistance against any form of dictatorship or autocracy."
He further said, "(May 18) is the driving force behind the current constitution and liberal democratic system," and added, "We must learn the lessons of history and resolutely oppose any dictatorship. Opposing dictatorship and totalitarianism is liberal democracy."
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