Yoon Seok-yeol: "5·18 is Living History"… Ruling Party Criticizes, "Do You Have the Right to Talk?"

Yoon "5·18 Driving Force of Democracy"
Kim Nam-guk "Yoon Seok-yeol, Ji Man-won Cleared"
Jung Cheong-rae "Political Imitation"

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] The ruling party is voicing unified criticism over former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's message that "the spirit of May 18 is the living spirit of the times and the constitutional spirit." The ruling party pointed out that Yoon is politically exploiting the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement and said, "He has no qualification to speak about the spirit of May 18."

On the 17th, Kim Nam-guk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized on Facebook, "Yoon, who dismissed charges against Ji Man-won, who has continuously belittled the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, has no qualification to mention the 'spirit of May 18.'"

He scorned, "I couldn't help but laugh at the part where Yoon, who is unqualified, said it 'commands strong rejection and resistance to any form of dictatorship and despotism.'"

He continued, "What face does the prosecution, which became a tool of the regime and drove President Roh Moo-hyun to death, and the political prosecution that tried to damage democracy by intervening in politics and elections through selective investigations, have to talk about the spirit of May 18 and the constitutional spirit?" he questioned.

Kim said, "No politician has ever tried to use the spirit of May 18 for their own politics. They only mourned quietly with regret and sorrow," and pointed out, "It seems to be the first time a politician tries to criticize the government using the spirit of May 18 as a message."

He also emphasized, "In my view, this is not just a veiled criticism but a 'political blunder' that will provoke even stronger criticism," adding, "I sincerely hope that the spirit of May 18 will never be politically exploited again."

Kim Nam-guk, member of the Democratic Party of Korea. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Democratic Party lawmaker Shin Dong-geun also said on Facebook, "There is an old saying, 'Those who have never been to Seoul pretend to know more about Seoul,'" adding, "Seeing people who have never experienced fighting against dictatorship pretending to know what dictatorship is and speaking recklessly makes me laugh. This is like punching the air."

He continued, "It has been a long time since the anti-democracy (dictatorship) versus democracy framework became invalid, yet the conservative opposition is still bringing up this futile frame. This is neither retro nor anything else; it's just absurd," he criticized.

Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Cheong-rae pointed at former Prosecutor General Yoon, saying, "Seeing him imitate politics shows that his political greed has grown strong."

He wrote on Facebook, "Does a person who resisted prosecution reform as the immediate past Prosecutor General and then resigned have the qualification to talk about the spirit of May 18? I understand the need for political practice and imitation, but no matter what, Yoon talking about the spirit of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement is too much. His greed is excessive," he said.

Earlier, on the 16th, former Prosecutor General Yoon delivered a message through the media, saying, "May 18 is a living history that is still ongoing," and "It commands strong rejection and resistance to any form of dictatorship or despotism."

He added, "(May 18) is the driving force behind the current constitution and liberal democratic system," and "We must learn the lessons of history and resolutely oppose any dictatorship. Opposing dictatorship and totalitarianism is liberal democracy."

Meanwhile, it has been reported that former Prosecutor General Yoon will visit Gwangju at an appropriate time after the 18th to pay respects at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery.