Justice Party: "If from Gimhae, is it 'Gaya', if from Gangneung, is it 'Dongye' that unites? Ruling Party, stop this shameful debate"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Regarding the ruling party's leading presidential candidates engaging in regionalism debates starting with so-called 'Baekje remarks,' the Justice Party has called for a halt, saying, "Stop this shameful debate."

On the 27th, Justice Party floor spokesperson Lee Eun-joo issued a statement asking, "If a president from Gimhae is elected, does that mean Gaya unified the Korean Peninsula? If a president from Gwangju is elected, did Baekje unify it or was it Later Baekje?" She continued, "If a president from Gangneung, Gangwon Province is elected, is it Dongye? Or if someone from Cheorwon is elected, does that mean Taebong unified the Korean Peninsula?" mocking and criticizing the ruling party's presidential candidates.

Spokesperson Lee said, "These are strange stories, but they are topics that the presidential candidates of our country's largest party are seriously debating with flushed faces," sharply criticizing them.

She added, "These individuals are those who have stepped forward to become leaders of a democratic government," and said, "In a democratic country, the main political issues dealt with are improving citizens' socio-economic lives and addressing community safety and stability." She then said, "However, the ruling party's presidential candidates in our country seem to have a special political perspective centered on the Three Kingdoms period rather than thinking about solving universal political tasks," and pointed out, "Regardless of party or region, once elected as a representative through an election, he or she is the president of the Republic of Korea government and a representative of the citizens, not a revival monarch of Baekje or Gaya."

Spokesperson Lee emphasized, "Neither Silla, Baekje, nor Goguryeo are to blame for today's political disorder," and said, "The Three Kingdoms have done no harm to modern Korean politics and are unrelated. The problem lies with the candidates themselves who conveniently invoke, exaggerate, or distort the past to justify themselves, not history."

She added, "It is the same to obscure current issues by blaming the Japanese colonial period or the Joseon Dynasty," and concluded, "The Democratic Party should stop this debate that is embarrassing to citizens."