Won Hee-ryong "Restoration of Inter-Korean Communication Line? Moon Administration's Trick... Attempt to Deceive the People is Unacceptable"

Jeon Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju, is answering questions from the press at the 'Declaration of Candidacy for the 20th Presidential Election and Press Conference' held at House Cafe in Yeouido, Seoul on the 25th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Choyoung] Won Heeryong, governor of Jeju and a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, downplayed the restoration of the inter-Korean communication line on the 27th, calling it "a trick by the Moon Jae-in administration trying to use North Korea's cheat key."

In a post on his Facebook that day, Governor Won said, "The North Korean cheat key used whenever a crisis arises due to mismanagement of the country. The attempt to deceive the public with such tricks is very poor."

He criticized, "With a series of adverse events such as the Cheonghae Unit mass infection, vaccine shortages, a collapsed economy, a ruined real estate market, and the arrest of former Governor Kim Kyung-soo, is the only response a North Korea-originated warm breeze operation?" and added, "Instead of making efforts to manage the incidents caused by the incompetence and hypocrisy of the Moon Jae-in government, they are only engaging in 'shallow tricks' to deceive the public."

He continued, "Being fooled once or twice is understandable, but at this level, it is disrespecting the people," and pointed out, "Inter-Korean relations should definitely be restored and move forward, but putting on a show just to use it politically in this way actually damages inter-Korean relations."

He added, "The time when hope torture worked on the people has already passed, and the time to show results has long gone," calling it a "'shameless administration' that neither achieves results nor apologizes for mistakes."

Earlier, Park Soo-hyun, Chief of Public Communication at the Blue House, held a briefing that morning and stated, "As of 10 a.m., the inter-Korean communication lines that had been cut off were restored, and an initial call was made," adding, "We expect that the restoration of the communication line will positively contribute to the improvement and development of inter-Korean relations going forward."