With "At This Point, Japanese Political Parties" and "Even Talk of 'Presidential Election as a Korea-Japan Match'" Offensive
A video titled "People Power Party, at this point a Japanese political party...?" was uploaded on the Democratic Party of Korea's YouTube channel 'Deliminju' on the 19th. It contains criticism of People Power Party lawmaker Kim Seok-ki's remarks suggesting that "Japan wants a regime change in Korea." Photo by YouTube channel 'Deliminju' video capture.
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] The Democratic Party of Korea is fiercely criticizing Kim Seok-ki, a member of the People Power Party, who said that "Japan is hoping for a regime change in South Korea," calling him a "pro-Japanese collaborator from the late Joseon period" and saying "at this point, they are a Japanese political party."
Kim Young-bae, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, criticized the offensive remarks made by the Japanese Embassy's charg? d'affaires at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 19th, saying, "At this important time when the President is considering a visit to Japan and a Korea-Japan summit is being discussed on the occasion of the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, it is suspicious that Japan is deliberately pouring cold water. It is not only a diplomatic insult but also a serious defamation as a private individual, which is absolutely unacceptable."
He continued, "However, there is something even more tragic and shocking. It is the remarks that came out at the People Power Party's floor strategy meeting," referring to Kim Seok-ki's remarks.
Earlier, on the 16th, at the People Power Party's floor strategy meeting, Kim Seok-ki said, "I just came back from Tokyo, Japan the day before yesterday," and added, "They cannot openly say it, but they think it is impossible to have a dialogue with the Moon Jae-in administration, so they definitely hope the regime changes so that normal (Korea-Japan) dialogue can take place."
He also claimed, "After the April 7 by-elections, I received many phone calls from Japan," and said, "Japanese politicians congratulated us (People Power Party) on winning the election, and even made international calls saying they hope the regime changes next year, which shows Japan's stance."
Kim Young-bae, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 14th of last month. / Photo by Yonhap News
In response, Supreme Council member Kim Young-bae said, "At this point, it is confusing whether the People Power Party is a political party of our country or a Japanese political party," and criticized, "Is a party that moves words amounting to Japan's interference in domestic affairs to an official meeting without criticism really a political party of the Republic of Korea? It seems like the pro-Japanese collaborators who sold out the country to Japan during the late Joseon period."
Kim Young-bae continued, "I will read some of the angry comments posted by netizens on internet communities last weekend. They include phrases like 'Are the native Japanese collaborators boasting after receiving orders from their homeland?' and 'They said the presidential election was a Korea-Japan match, and it’s true,' but I will refrain from more severe expressions," and urged, "The People Power Party should apologize to the people for the remarks denying the Republic of Korea and clearly reaffirm the identity of the Republic of Korea."
Another Supreme Council member from the same party, Kang Byung-won, raised his voice, saying, "Since when did Kim Seok-ki change his party affiliation to the Liberal Democratic Party? Many pro-Japanese remarks are pouring out within the People Power Party. I hope this opportunity will clarify to the public where the nationality of the party called People Power Party lies."
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